Featured My 300 year old book. Happy birthday!

"The Theological Works of the Reverend Mr Charles Leslie."


I only have the first volume, 800 pages of ranting about all the other religions. The front cover is loose but the basic book is in pretty good shape for being from 1721. I do need to get it conserved.

It's been passed down in my family. Probably from Rev Daniel McDonald who co-founded the Geneva Academy with Bishop Hobart. The academy became Hobart College (now combined with William Smith) and Daniel was the first Latin professor.

What do you do with a 300 year old book? I don't think anyone younger then me in the family is interesting. It doesn't have much value. But you can't throw out a book that made it this far. Perhaps the College might want it.

 

I noticed on Twitter there are quite some younger people seriously interested in early modern books. Maybe this book can be a start for a new collection? I helped a student with a few books from my collection.

 

Why? It already sounds conservative!

James.

 

Did any previous owners write their names or put insignias or bookplates in it? Sometimes a connection can make a difference. Once I had a Greek grammar book from the early 19th century that had belonged to a college student in Ohio who later became a noted minister in Indiana. His father had been president of the same college. The archives of the college did want the book, and I donated it to them.

Even if yours doesn't have an owner's identification, it is possible that the college would want it due to the family provenance and history you described.

 

It does have my great great grandfather's signature so that kinda establishes the connection to Rev McDonald.

 

Nearly any book of this age has at least some collectors value. Where it’s published and illustrations have a big impact on value. Obviously rarity is the biggest factor. American books of this age are very sought after. Published in England of this age much less so for the common book but still desirable enough. Some people buy old books just to fill bookcases because they aesthetically pleasing.