{"product_id":"1764-book-of-common-prayer-psalter-w-contemporary-binding-hymn-inscription","title":"1764 Book of Common Prayer \u0026 Psalter, W\/ Contemporary Binding \u0026 Hymn Inscription","description":"\u003cp\u003eA handsome and well-preserved eighteenth-century\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBook of Common Prayer\u003c\/span\u003e, printed at Cambridge in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1764\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eby\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoseph Bentham\u003c\/span\u003e, Printer to the University, and retaining its attractive contemporary full calf binding. This devotional volume was clearly intended for daily use, containing the liturgy of the Church of England, the Psalter, Collects, Baptismal Offices, and a substantial section of private prayers and meditations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePerhaps most appealing is the evidence of personal ownership and devotion. The title page bears an early owner's inscription, while a full manuscript copy of Thomas Ken's celebrated\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvening Hymn\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ehas been carefully written on a rear blank leaf, providing a charming glimpse into the religious life of one of its eighteenth or early nineteenth-century owners.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eBibliographical Details:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church... Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePrinter:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eJoseph Bentham\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlace:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eCambridge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBookseller:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eBenjamin Dod, Ave-Mary Lane, London\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDate:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e1764\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e  Octavo\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBound in its contemporary full calf binding\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eraised bands\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003esimple blind tooling to the spine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e rubbing and wear to the boards, corners, and spine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMinor loss to the extremities of the leather is present, but the structure remains sound.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInternally the text is generally clean\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThere is occasional age toning and light foxing throughout\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003etogether with a few marks expected of a devotional volume intended for regular use\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe manuscript additions remain clear and attractive.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eInscriptions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe title page bears the contemporary ownership inscription:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMargaret Laybourne\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e(or possibly\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaybourn\u003c\/span\u003e, the final letters being slightly abbreviated).\u003cbr\u003eThis appears to be the original owner's signature, adding a pleasing element of provenance.\u003cbr\u003eAt the rear of the volume a previous owner has carefully copied\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThomas Ken's famous \"Evening Hymn.\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eThe verses begin:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGlory to thee, my God, this night,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFor all the blessings of the light...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eand conclude with the celebrated Doxology:\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePraise God from whom all blessings flow,\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePraise Him all creatures here below...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe neat manuscript demonstrates that this volume served not merely as a church book but as a deeply personal devotional companion.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHistorical Background:\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis Prayer Book was printed in\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e1764\u003c\/span\u003e, immediately following Britain's victory in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeven Years' War (1756–1763)\u003c\/span\u003e. The conflict transformed Britain into the dominant global imperial power, bringing Canada under British control and greatly expanding British influence in India.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet these triumphs came at a considerable financial cost. In an effort to repay the enormous national debt, Parliament soon introduced new taxation upon Britain's American colonies. Measures such as the Stamp Act of 1765 generated growing colonial opposition, tensions that ultimately culminated in the\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAmerican Revolution\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eonly a decade later.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis volume therefore belongs to a fascinating moment in British history, when the British Empire stood at its greatest extent while unknowingly approaching one of its defining constitutional crises.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout the Printer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJoseph Bentham served as\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePrinter to the University of Cambridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eand produced numerous editions of the Bible and Book of Common Prayer during the mid-eighteenth century. His work is recognised for its clear typography and careful production, making his editions popular for both parish use and private devotion throughout Britain.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFeatures\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted in Cambridge in 1764.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eJoseph Bentham imprint.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eContemporary full calf binding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRaised bands with blind-tooled spine.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eComplete Book of Common Prayer and Psalter.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIncludes Collects, Baptismal Offices, Thanksgivings, and Prayers.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEarly ownership signature of Margaret Laybourne (or Laybourn).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAttractive manuscript copy of Thomas Ken's\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvening Hymn\u003c\/span\u003e.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA fine example of an eighteenth-century Anglican devotional volume preserving both its original binding and evidence of centuries of personal use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight - 740g\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHeight - 20.6cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWidth - 13cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThickness - 4.8cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Momo Rare Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54441369469267,"sku":null,"price":300.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0953\/9187\/5411\/files\/IMG_8394.jpg?v=1785431654","url":"https:\/\/www.momorarebooks.co.uk\/products\/1764-book-of-common-prayer-psalter-w-contemporary-binding-hymn-inscription","provider":"Momo Rare Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}