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Cudworth, [Ralph].
A Sermon Preached before the Honourable House of Commons at Westminster, March 31. 1647; [bound with] A Discourse Concerning the True Notion of the Lords Supper; [and] A Union of Christ and Church in a Shadow [Restoration sombre binding from the workshop of Queen’s Binder ‘A’].
Publisher: Printed for Roger Daniel, Printer to the Universitie; Printed for Richard Cotes; Printed for Richard Bishop, Cambridge, and London;
Date of Publication: 1642
Stock Code: 14531
Quarto in half-sheets, pp., [12], 82, [2]; [3], 73, [3]; [2], 35, [1] blank verso. Printed partially in Hebrew. Full black morocco on five raised bands, elaborately tooled in blind to both panels, using ribbon and pointillé tools, most likely of the 1670s, very similar to, and with the same rolls to boards as a finely-bound copy of Cudworth’s ‘True Intellectual System’ at the British Library (BL Davis 187), which Mirjam Foot identifies as being bound by Queen’s Binder A. Ink ownership inscription of ‘Jane Brydges’ in contemporary hand to title-page. Ink notes to end, dated early nineteenth-century. Later ownership inscription in blue ink to front free end-paper. Corners and joints rubbed. Minor loss to head of spine, and 2 cm crack to head of upper joint. Tear with loss to front free endpaper, tear to first blank and to leaf D of first work, and tear to title-page of second work. Three tracts by the influential Cambridge Platonist Ralph Cudworth. Cudworth was a scholar, theologian, and ally of Oliver Cromwell. These volumes bound as one are three of Cudworth’s earlier works, produced in the fever pitch of the religious debates surrounding the English Civil War. The Queen’s Binders were a small group who were so named because their designs were found in the libraries of Catherine of Braganza and Mary of Modena. They are recognised for their distinctive pointillé designs, as found here. The Queen’s Binders are known to include Samuel Mearne, Roger Bartlett, and William Nott. A fine Restoration binding on three works of controversial non-conformist divinity. £1750.00