A Comment on the Book of CommonPrayer, and the Administration of the Sacraments, & c. Together with the Psalter or Psalms of David, Being a Paraphrase on the Sunday and Holiday-Services, Epistles and Gospels throughout the year : …
London, Printed for R. Bonwicke, W. Freeman, T. Goodwin, J. Walthoe, M. Wotton, S. Manship, J. Nicholson, R. Parker, B. Tooke, and R. Smith, 1710.
£ 1000
Folio. unnumbered; ff. (i = half title), plate with Nicholls portrait, (iii = title-page and dedication to the Queen), [a]- [e]2 B-I 2 A-O2 *A2 †B-†K2 M2 Aa-Zz2 †Bb-†Xx2 AaaTtt2 †Aaa-†Iii2 †K-†M2 (*a) 2 Aaaa-Zzzz2 Aaaaa-Rrrrr2 Aaaaa-Ttttt2 . Black and Roman letter, some Italic, little Greek. Single-column text and notes in double column. Decorated initials, several diagrams and tables containing the calendar of movable and immovable feasts, in red and black ink, and prayer times throughout the year. Early ink autograph of front pastedown “Tho: Marhill” and date “1728”. Bound in contemporary English calf, panelled covers rather worn, gilt spine in seven compartments divided by raised bands, gilt title on red morocco label. Some light spotting throughout. Generally a clean and crisp copy.
This is the major work of the clergyman and theologian William Nicholls (1664- 1712). This book was published by subscription, and dedicated to Queen Anne. He did it unassisted and it cost him his 14 health. First published in 1549, under the reign of Edward VI, the Book of Common Prayer (BPC) was the first prayer book to include the complete forms of service for daily and Sunday worship in English. It contained Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, the Litany, and Holy Communion and also the occasional services in full: the orders for Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, “prayers to be said with the sick”, and a funeral service. It also set out in full the “propers”: the collects and the epistle and gospel readings for the Sunday Communion Service. Old and New Testament readings for daily prayer were specified in tabular format as were the Psalms and canticles mostly biblical, that were provided to be said or sung between the readings.
ESTC T87380