Merton, Thomas

The Seven Storey Mountain.

New York : Harcourt, Brace & World, 1948.

First edition, first-issue binding in white cloth and in the first-issue dust jacket with the photo on rear panel captioned: “Author is second from the left.” Signed by Thomas Merton on the half-title page. Fine in a very good dust jacket. Housed in a custom half morocco clamshell box. Signed first editions are rare.

Mother Teresa and Helmut Kohl

Mother Teresa and Helmut Kohl Signed Photograph.

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Black and white photographic portrait of Mother Teresa and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl. Signed by Mother Teresa, “God bless you M. Teresa mc” and signed by Helmut Kohl. Mother Teresa and Chancellor Kohl met on July 13, 1986 at Mother Teresa’s home in Oggersheim. Kohl gained a reputation for his strong commitment to European integration and French–GermanContinue reading "Mother Teresa and Helmut Kohl Signed Photograph."

Waugh, Evelyn; Illustrated by Reynolds Stone

The Holy Places. With Wood Engravings by Reynolds Stone.

New York and London : The Queen Anne Press; The British Book Centre, 1953.

Signed limited issue, number 23 of 50 specially bound copies, signed by both the author and illustrator Reynolds Stone, from a total edition of 1,000 copies. Quarto, original red morocco, gilt titles to the spine, gray endpapers, top edge gilt. Frontispiece woodcut and title page printed in brown, 3 further woodcuts in text printed in black.Continue reading "The Holy Places. With Wood Engravings by Reynolds Stone."

Dana, James (Jonathan Edwards)

The “Examination of the Late Rev’d President Edwards’s Enquiry on Freedom of Will,” Continued.

New Haven : Printed for Thomas and Samuel Green, 1773.

First edition of American Protestant clergyman James Dana’s second published response to Jonathan Edwards’ Inquiry into the Modern Prevailing Notions of the Freedom of the Will, preceded by Dana’s prior examination of the same subject published anonymously in 1770. Octavo, original three-quarter period calf over marbled boards, gilt titles to the spine, morocco spine labels,Continue reading "The “Examination of the Late Rev’d President Edwards’s Enquiry on Freedom of Will,” Continued."

Chambers, Oswald

Biblical Ethics.

London : Simpkin Marshall, 1941.

First edition of Chambers’ work on Biblical ethics. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with light wear.

Gibran, Kahlil

Jesus: The Son of Man.

New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 1928.

First edition of Kahlil Gibran’s masterful retelling of the story of Jesus of Nazareth. Octavo, original cloth, illustrations by the author. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author in the year of publication on the front free endpaper, “For Roy and D. from Howard and Bill With the blessing upon you four, and with the gratitudeContinue reading "Jesus: The Son of Man."

Pope Pius XI. (Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti)

Pope Pius XI Hand-Illuminated Benediction Signed.

c. 1930.

Rare hand-illuminated apostolic benediction signed by Pope Pius XI with a circular portrait of him. The blessing in elaborate script reads, “Most Holy Father, Margaret, Katherine, Regina, John, Leo and Charles Lougrhan, humbly prostrate at the feet of Your Holiness beg one special blessing.” Signed by the pope at the conclusion, “Pope PP. XI.” InContinue reading "Pope Pius XI Hand-Illuminated Benediction Signed."

Balinese Palm Leaf Prayer Manuscript.

Indonesia c. 16th century.

Rare Balinese palm leaf manuscript. Eight leaves, inscribed on both sides in Hindu text manuscript, binding thread intact. In near fine condition.

Heschel, Abraham Joshua

Man Is Not Alone: A Philosophy of Religion.

Philadelphia : Jewish Publication Society of America, 1951.

First edition of this modern classic of Jewish theology. Octavo, original cloth. Near fine in the rare original dust jacket with some chips and rubbing. Jacket designed by Marshall Lee.

Leeser, Isaac

The Law of God.

Philadelphia : C. Sherman, 5605, 1845-46.

First edition of the “first English translation of the Pentateuch in America,” the 1845 Hebrew-English Bible by one of the most prominent and influential figures in American Jewish history. Octavo, 5 volumes. Translated by Isaac Leeser. Bound in full contemporary calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine. In near fine condition. A nice example,Continue reading "The Law of God."

Leeser, Isaac

Discourses, Argumentative and Devotional, on the Subject of Jewish Religion.

Philadelphia : C. Sherman and Co, 1836-1841.

First edition of “the first anthology of Jewish sermons in America” which “marked the coming of age of the American synagogue and ministry”(Goldman). Association copy linking the two most prominent and influential figures in Jewish America and England of this era, Issac Leeser and Moses Montefiore. American Jewish lay minister, author, translator, and publisher Issac Leeser revolutionized the format of the early American Jewish sermon by preaching in English, helping to establish regular sermons as a central part of the AmericanContinue reading "Discourses, Argumentative and Devotional, on the Subject of Jewish Religion."

Bentwich, Norman

The Jews and International Relations: The Pursuit of Peace.

c. 1950.

Rare manuscript written by Mandatory Palestine’s first attorney general, British Zionist Norman Bentwich. 21 pages, type-written with copious corrections and revisions in Bentwich’s hand throughout, signed by Bentwich at the conclusion of the last page. Developed during his term as Chairman of the United Restitution Organization, the manuscript contains content and notes which would later beContinue reading "The Jews and International Relations: The Pursuit of Peace."

King George IV

The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments.

Oxford : Bensley, Cooke, and Collingwood, 1816.

Royal Coronation edition of The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments used at the Coronation of King George IV on July 19th, 1821. Quarto, bound in full dark blue velvet, gilt arms of George IV to both front and rear panels, all edges gilt, housed in a custom locking full morocco clamshellContinue reading "The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments."

Jay, William

A Review of the Causes and Consequences of the Mexican War.

Boston : Benjamin B. Mussey & Co, 1849.

Second edition of American abolitionist and jurist William Jay’s classic antiwar treatise. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, gilt titles to the spine. In good condition with some wear to the crown and foot of the spine.

Qadi Zada al-Rumi (1364-1436) Commentary on al-Hikma, 918 AH [1684 CE].

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Octavo manuscript in Arabic on paper, consisting of two works, including Fakhr al-Din al-Razi’s (1149-1209) Hashiya ‘ala sharh hidayat alhikma, contemporary blind-tooled leather. In very good condition.

Leeser, Isaac

The Law of God.

Philadelphia : C. Sherman, 5605, 1845-46.

First edition of the “first English translation of the Pentateuch in America,” the 1845 Hebrew-English Bible by one of the most prominent and influential figures in American Jewish history. Octavo, 5 volumes. Translated by Isaac Leeser. Bound in contemporary polished calf, gilt titles and tooling to the spine, rebacked. Lightly rubbed, moderate wear. A veryContinue reading "The Law of God."

Palm Leaf Manuscript.

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Very attractive palm leaf book in East Asian script (possibly Burmese). Approximately 159 palm leaves between two wooden covers with beveled edges, loosely bound with a cord, with a medallion at each end. Each leaf approximately 1.25 inches by 13.5 inches, with manuscript  in black ink on rectos and versos of each leaf, initial andContinue reading "Palm Leaf Manuscript."

Smith, Huston

The Religions of Man.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1958.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece and one of the most widely used college textbooks on comparative religion. Octavo, original cloth. Signed by Huston Smith on the front free endpaper. Near fine in a very good dust jacket with light rubbing and wear. Rare and desirable signed by Huston Smith.

Smith, Huston

The Religions of Man.

New York : Harper & Brothers Publishers, 1958.

First edition of the author’s masterpiece and one of the most widely used college textbooks on comparative religion. Octavo, original cloth. Inscribed by Huston Smith on the half title page. Very good in a very good price-clipped dust jacket with light rubbing and wear. Rare and desirable signed by Huston Smith.

Johann Salomo Semler

Institutio Ad Doctrinam Christianam Liberaliter Discendam.

: Halae Magdebvrgicae, 1774.

First edition. Octavo, three quarters leather over marbled boards. In very good condition.

Stott, John R.W

Basic Christianity.

Illinois : InterVarsity Press, 2008.

First edition of the 50th Anniversary edition of Stott’s classic work, originally published in 1958. Octavo, original black boards. Inscribed by the author on the title page, “For ____ with best wishes from John Stott.” Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Kaplan, Mordecai M

A New Zionism.

New York : Herzyl Press, 1959.

Second enlarged edition. Octavo, original cloth. Lengthily Inscribed by Mordecai Kaplan to a noted Zionist on the half-title page. In near fine condition.