A New Version of the Psalms of David, Fitted to the Tunes Used in Churches

London: Richard Hett, 1780. Hardcover. Near fine. 8vo. 236, (4)pp. Finely bound by an unnamed binder thought to be in Liverpool. Full crimson morocco. A slim keyroll gilt border surrounds a distinctive flower and urn tool. In the center of the upper board is tooled "John Brown, Esqr., Mayor, 1782." The smooth spine is ornately tooled with three rows of flowers charmingly offset. Gilt inner dentelles and edged. All edges gilt. Marbled endpapers. Light rubbing, occasional light foxing, but a near fine copy.

John Brown served as Mayor of Liverpool from 1782 to 1783.

The binder remains unknown, but is possibly either Peter Wright or Richard Wright, both of whom are listed in Gore's 1766 Liverpool Directory. Michael Laird of Lockhart Texas has published a list of eighteen examples known from this binder. Number 2 on the list is a two volume Bible, also a presentation to Mayor Brown, as listed in the Lathrop Harper Catalogue 239. That listing also described a third volume, a Book of Common Prayer and Psalter similarly bound. The present New Version of the Psalms is clearly a fourth volume of the presentation set.

Accompanied by the above mentioned Lathrop Harper Catalogue.

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