THE WISDOM OF GOD MANIFESTED IN THE WORKS OF CREATION In Two Parts

London: Benj. Walford, 1709. 5th ed. Corrected enlarged. . Hardcover. VG- for age. 12.5 Cms x 19.5 Cms. Early tooled calf boards have slightly rubbed corners, are generally clean but have a rich patina of aging, with edges darker than central tooled panel, paneled spine, with recent gilt label, is much worn with narrow central surface crack and worn bottom end but is now quite secure after expert conservation which also involved refixing front board. f/piece engr.portrait+464 (unpag.to 16); the late R.M.Young's copy, though (unusually) unsigned, with his eraseable marginal lines and occ. marginalia throughout, mostly in first half, a very early sig.top fr.free endpaper; main text-block otherwise clean & tight, though noticed a paper-fault crease to one leaf not affecting text, engr.portrait good, endpapers and pastedowns tanned to edges and small chip bottom corner rear endpaper, tiny marginal wormhole from pp.457/8 to end of little significance. Despite age-related faults a textually sound and tight copy which remains quite attractive. Young's markings can be erased (should one wish) with patience. This 5th (posthumous) edition is longer than the 3rd, but cannot find a listed 4th ed. with pagination. All these early copies are very scarce and presumably the 4th and 5th are, academically, the more desirable as containing Ray's final positions and thoughts. Note: quoted shipping rates are calculated for 500-700 gram net weight, cost will be modified up or down as appropriate outside this range.