The Anti-Universalist, or History of the Fallen Angels of the Scriptures; Proofs of the Being of Satan and the Evil Spirits.
Albany: Printed by J. Munsell, 1837. Item #1093 Two parts in one volume with separate title-pages. 8vo. 210 x 130 mm.; [8 ¼ x 5 ¼ inches]. viii, [1], 10-420 pp. Illustrated with 22 woodcuts by Butler. Bound in contemporary mottled sheep skin; joints cracked and a bit weak; light foxing throughout. Ink signature of Audrey P. Pithower? of Albany on the front pastedown. Part II with title-page which reads, History of Satan, and Proof of the Existence of Devils and Evil Spirits . . . The woodcuts depict Old Testament stories and are monumental in nature, printed in the black on white method to show contrast and heighten impact. First edition. Josiah Priest (1788-1861) was a successful author of books, based on questionable facts and unreliable sources, that captured the imagination of the American public for their inherently racist views of both Native Americans and African Americans. He was described as “an uneducated harness maker by trade” who understood the mood of Americans and their desire to expand the country westward and build the economy on the backs thought to be inferior. In this work, he uses the typology of good and evil and explores it in relationship to the religious awakening, dissenters, and the development of numerous splinter groups that evolved from the enthusiasm of the Second Great Awakening. His fundamentalist views and strict interpretation of the bible brought him into direct conflict with liberal Protestantism and reflected the anti-establishment fervor that accompanied the movement way from the center of power in the east. The importance of Priest’s book today lies with the illustrations which accompany the text. The twenty-two woodcuts by Butler, are certainly influenced by millennial designs of William Blake and John Flaxman. They are based on the stories from the Bible that Priest refers to in his text and are monumental in their composition and design. Cutting his blocks white on black, the images conjure the contrast of good and evil in vivid form. These woodcuts compliment the dark nature of the text with great success and are very powerful in the message that they carry. Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography, V, p. 120. Although this title is not cited by Sabin, a dozen of his other works are list. JT/DSC* (1093)
Price: $450.00