West, Stephen [Jonathan Edwards]

An Essay on Moral Agency: Containing Remarks on a Late Anonymous Publication, Entitled, An Examination of the Late President Edward’s Inquiry on Freedom of Will.

Salem : Printed by Thomas C. Cushing, 1794.

Second edition of this work defending Jonathan Edwards treatise Freedom of the Will. Octavo, bound in full calf with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within gilt bands, morocco spine label. In very good condition, bookplate to the front pastedown.

Wiesel, Elie; Mark Podwal

A Passover Haggadah.

New York : A Touchstone Book / Simon & Schuter Inc, 1993.

First edition of this traditional Passover text paired with Wiesel’s poetic commentary. Octavo, original publisher’s half-cloth, illustrated throughout. Presentation copy, inscribed by Wiesel on the front free endpaper, “For Nick and Judy Hag sameach, Elie Wiesel.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. As commented upon by Elie Wiesel. Illustrated by Mark Podwal. Jacket design byContinue reading "A Passover Haggadah."

Ben-Gurion, David

The Jews in Their Land.

Garden City, NY : Doubleday & Company, 1966.

First edition of this finely illustrated work by David Ben-Gurion. Quarto, original cloth, illustrated. Near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Jacket design by Ben Shahn. Translated from the Hebrew by Modechai Nurock and Misha Louvish.    

Ruskin, John

The Queen of the Air: Being a Study of the Greek Myths of Cloud and Storm.

London : George Allen, 1903.

Finely bound example of Ruskin’s classic work on Greek mythology. Octavo, bound in full modern morocco with gilt titles to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, top edge gilt, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, silk ribbon bound in. In very good condition with sunning to the spine and light rubbing.

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.

Wiesel, Elie

Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters.

New York : Random House, 1972.

First edition of this exploration of Hasidism, focusing on the tales, legends, and portraits of its 18th and 19th-century masters. Octavo, original publisher’s cloth, top stain maroon, cartographic endpapers. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page and signed in English and Hebrew, “For Maurine and Stanley Kessler – in these daysContinue reading "Souls on Fire: Portraits and Legends of Hasidic Masters."

Bourgeois, Jean-Louis. Photographs by Carollee Pelos. [Peter Matthiessen]

Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition.

New York : Aperture Foundation, Inc, 1980.

First edition of this spectacular celebration of traditional Adobe architecture in the West. Quarto, original half cloth, illustrated with photographs by Carollee Pelos. Historical Essay by Basil Davidson. Signed by Jean-Louis Bourgeois and Carollee Pelos on the half-title page. From the library of Peter Matthiessen with his bookplate to the pastedown. American writer Peter MatthiessenContinue reading "Spectacular Vernacular: The Adobe Tradition."

Tolstoy, Leo

The Christian Teaching.

London : Horace Marshall & Son, 1898.

First edition in English of Tolstoy’s work the history and influence of Christianity, inspired by his own spiritual awakening. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel. Translated by Vladimir Tchertkoff. In very good condition. Ownership inscription.

Tolstoy, Leo

The Christian Teaching.

New York : Frederick A. Stokes, 1898.

First American edition of Tolstoy’s work the history and influence of Christianity, inspired by his own spiritual awakening. Octavo, original cloth with gilt titles to the spine and front panel, top edge gilt. Translated by Vladimir Tchertkoff. In very good condition. Ownership inscription.

Cohen, William S.; Janet Langheart Cohen; [Madeleine K. Albright]

Love in Black and White: A Memoir of Race, Religion, and Romance.

Lanham, MD : Rowman & Littlefield, 2007.

First edition of this profound story of perseverance against racial hatred and bigotry. Octavo, original half cloth, illustrated with black and white photographs. Association copy, inscribed by the authors on the half-title page, “For Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright, with sincere Thanks for your friendship & for helping to make this story a success!Continue reading "Love in Black and White: A Memoir of Race, Religion, and Romance."

Calmet, Antoine Augustin. Translated by Giovanni Domenico Mansi

Dictionarium Historicum, Criticum, Chronologicum, Geographicum, et Literale Sacrae Scripturae, Cum figuris Antiquitates Judaicas repraesentantibus Authore R.P.D. Augustino Calmet Ordinis S. Benedicti Abbate, E Gallico in Latinum translatum A Joanne Dominico Mansi, Congregationis Matris Dei, Lucensi.

Venetiis : Apud Sebastianum Coleti, 1757.

Second Venetian edition of Giovanni Domenico Mansi’s Latin translation of Antoine Augustin Calmet’s dictionary of the Holy Scriptures, perhaps the most famous and meticulous exegetical, historical and geographical dictionary of the Holy Scriptures produced. Folio, 2 volumes bound in full vellum with morocco spine labels, all edges speckled red, elaborately illustrated with full-page woodcut engravings,Continue reading "Dictionarium Historicum, Criticum, Chronologicum, Geographicum, et Literale Sacrae Scripturae, Cum figuris Antiquitates Judaicas repraesentantibus Authore R.P.D. Augustino Calmet Ordinis S. Benedicti Abbate, E Gallico in Latinum translatum A Joanne Dominico Mansi, Congregationis Matris Dei, Lucensi."

Pagels, Elaine

The Gnostic Gospels.

New York : Random House, 1979.

First edition of the author’s groundbreaking work. Octavo, original half cloth. Presentation copy, warmly inscribed by the author on the half-title page. Near fine in a very  good price-clipped dust jacket. Jacket design by R.D. Scudellari.

J. Leslie Dunstan [Protestantism]; George Brand [Catholicism]; Arthur Hertzberg [Judaism]; Richard A. Gard [Buddhism]; Louis Renou [Hinduism]; John A. Williams [Islam]

Protestantism, Catholicism, Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam: Six-Volume Set of Great Religions of Modern Man.

New York : George Braziller, 1961.

First editions of this classic collection of works. Octavo, original cloths, 6 volumes, original slipcase. Near fine in near fine dust jackets. Jacket design by Joseph Low.

Albach, J. S

Heilige Anklänge: Gebete für Katholische Christen. [Sacred Echoes: Prayers for Catholic Christians].

Germany : Julius Muller, 1850.

Rare 19th century Catholic prayer book in the German language. Octodecimo, bound in leather with stylized botanical designs stamped in blind to the spine, front and rear panels, metallic crucifixion of Jesus to the front panel, original metallic locking mechanism preserved, all edges gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece of Mary with the cross, illustrated with six steelContinue reading "Heilige Anklänge: Gebete für Katholische Christen. [Sacred Echoes: Prayers for Catholic Christians]."

Apcar, Amy

Melodies of Five Offices in Holy Week According to the Holy Apostolic Church of Armenia: Being the Offices for Palm Sunday Evening for the Third, Sixth, and Tenth Hours of Holy Thursday and for the Tenth Hour of Good Friday Together with the Office for Candlemas Eve.

Leipzig : Printed by Breitkopf & Haertel, 1902.

Early edition of this rendering of sacred melodies into modern musical notation. Octavo, written in English and Armenian, bound in full brown cloth with gilt titles to the spine, gilt cross vignette to the front panel, musical stanzas throughout. Written down in modern musical notation by Amy Apcar. In good condition with rubbing and lossesContinue reading "Melodies of Five Offices in Holy Week According to the Holy Apostolic Church of Armenia: Being the Offices for Palm Sunday Evening for the Third, Sixth, and Tenth Hours of Holy Thursday and for the Tenth Hour of Good Friday Together with the Office for Candlemas Eve."

Guns, Joseph. [Translator]

The Form of Daily Prayers According to the Custom of the German and Polish Jews. [Hebrew Prayer Book].

Vienna : Published by Jos. Schlesinger, 1857.

First edition of Joseph Guns’ translation of the primary prayers of the German and Polish Jews. 12 mo, original mounted bone onlays over celluloid boards, elaborately decorated front panel with decorated onlays, top edge gilt, brass clasp, patterned endpapers, text in Hebrew and English. In very good condition. Ownership annotations to the front and rearContinue reading "The Form of Daily Prayers According to the Custom of the German and Polish Jews. [Hebrew Prayer Book]."

Stott, John

Authentic Christianity: From the Writings of John Stott.

Downers Grove, IL : InterVarsity Press, 1995.

First edition of this collection of writings from the legendary John Stott. Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on the front free endpaper, “Janet with gratitude for your support of the Langham Foundation John Stott Feb 96.” Fine in a fine dust jacket. Edited and with an introduction by Timothy Dudley Smith.

Wright, N.T

The New Testament and the People of God.

Minneapolis : Fortress Press, 1992.

Early printing of this work by the award-winning theologian. Octavo, original illustrated wrappers. Inscribed by N.T. Wright on the title page. In good condition with some dampstaining.

Edwards, Jonathan

Historisch Verhaal: An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend David Brainerd.

The Netherlands : T'Utrecht, 1756.

Early example of “one of America’s most important and original philosophical theologians” American theologian Jonathan Edwards’ biography of Reverend David Brainerd. Title reads in full: An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend Mr. David Brainerd, Missionary to the Indians, from the Honorable Society in Scotland, for the Propagation of Christian Knowledge, and PastorContinue reading "Historisch Verhaal: An Account of the Life of the Late Reverend David Brainerd."

Dennett, Daniel C

Breaking the Spell: Religion As A Natural Phenomenon.

New York : Viking, 2006.

First edition of this “crystal-clear, constantly engaging work” (Jared Diamond). Octavo, original cloth. Presentation copy, inscribed by the author on title page, “For Annie Daniel C. Dennett 3/6/23.” Near fine in a near fine dust jacket.

Komroff, Manuel [Editor]

The Apocrypha or Non-Canonical Books of the Bible: The King James Version.

New York : Tudor Publishing Company, 1946.

Finely bound 20th century printing of the Apocrypha. Octavo, bound in full calf with gilt titles and tooling to the spine in six compartments within raised bands, triple ruling stamped in blind to the front and rear panels, all edges gilt, gilt inner dentelles, floral pictorial endpapers. In near fine condition with light sunning toContinue reading "The Apocrypha or Non-Canonical Books of the Bible: The King James Version."

Garvey, Robert. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak

Good Shabbos, Everybody.

: United Synagogue of America, 1951.

First edition of this charming picture book celebrating the Shabbat, with early illustrations by Maurice Sendak. Quarto, original pictorial boards, pictorial endpapers. Illustrated by Maurice Sendak. Leonard Weisgard, Art Consultant. In near fine condition. An exceptional example.

Siddur Avodat Israel with English Translation.

Tel-Aviv : Sinai Publishing, 1967.

Rare elaborately bound Jewish Siddur prayer book. Small octavo, bound in full silver metal with elaborate tooling to the spine and panels, inlaid turquoise decorations to the front panel, patterned enpdapers, ribbon bound in. English translation facing the Hebrew text. In fine condition. Presentation bookplate to the pastedown. An elaborate presentation.

A Kempis, Thomas

Of the Imitation of Christ.

London : Kegan Paul, Trench & Co, 1884.

Finely bound example of a Kempis’ classic work. Octavo, bound in full crushed purple morocco by Bayntun for Brentano’s with gilt titles and tooling to the spine, elaborate gilt ruling to the front and rear panels, gilt turn-ins and inner dentelles, marbled endpapers, all edges gilt, tissue-guarded frontispiece. In very good condition. A handsome example.