The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-12
A RARE BOOK.
Mr.. James II. Witty Makes a Valu-
able Find.

Mr.. James II. Witty Makes Valu-
able Find.
There was found i'm an out Of the way
place. where some books collectors search,
In Richmond last week by AIR. James H.
Witty the most excessively rare Nir-
ginia Colonial prayer book in existence
Indeed there is only one other copy IN
existence and that strangely turned up
very recently and has been publicly
known since the issue Of the October num-
Der of the Pennsylvania Magazine where
its bibliographyis given by Mr. Chas.
r. Hildebrun The first capy was
among the books bequeathed 20 the His
torical Society OF Pennsylvania by the
late John Cle1ont Of Hadonhel1, ". j..
and up to that time the book was un.
known TO all photographers and i'idr-
gians.
The titles are three IN number and the
book was printed and sold by William
Parks. IN Williamsburg, Va. in 174O, The
book was Their fore printed seven years
previous TO Stiths History OF Virginia
and the volume Is a very early Virginia
imprint as printers did not obtain per.
manent fOothOld in this colony until 1873.
the attempt 10 put up a press about
1862 by John Buckner having no imitator
until the arrival OF Parks In the year
above mentioned. II may be an interest
Ing fact not generally known. in this
connection, that the Yirgiia Historical
Society has the only early volume II the
Virginia Gazette which was published
and commenced by william Park I'm 49,;
The prayer book Is OF great Importance
20 the history OF Virginia as its very *
istence goes to show the thoughts ar1
feelings Of the people curing the earlier
81 81 a, a
also indicate from these two finds that the
book had fair circulation turning W as
they have in remote sections. Mr.. Whit
tvs copy was evidently as shown by the
notatlons therein once .he property Of
the well-known family Of Johnson a
Louisa county, Va, and contains the date
OF the death OF Nicholas Johnson, whose
funeral sermon was preached by Rev
Robert Barrett. The death of Mary An
derson is also recorded on the same
page and she was evidently the wife OF
Nicholas Johnson. as other entries that Of
Mary Johnson. etc. indicate that the
book belonged originally TO that family
The first edition OF the book was pub
lished in London in 100 1t is not a
reprint OF the book OF Common Prayer
but appears to be wholly OF Bishop Glib
sons own composition and therefore no
infringement OF the patent which pro-
tected the publication OF the ritual OF the
established church. At the date Of it's
first issue Or. Gibson was rector OF Lam
beth and did not become Bishop of Lon
don until 1923.
Mr.. Witty has carefully examined the
type and press work OF the volume.
which corresponds with that used IN the
Virginia Gazette Of 1868 II IS a differ
ent type and more than likely was print
81 on another press than that used tor
Stiths History OF Virginia.
The type used IN plea and long primer
and the make up and style that used nv
Parks in both the Gazette and Stith's
History. The press work and type OF
stiths History, however, seem some
what OF an improvement. and II q more
than likely that Parks was very success
ful in his first efforts. and improved
his plant right along. and somewhere Re-
tween 17i0 and the date OF the publ,ca-
ton OF Stiths History OF virginia, had
secured new fonts of type and improved or
put up new press for his book work
The book measures four by six inches
AID has an old binding. II is uni iubtnd-
ly one OF the most valuable accusations
that has ever been made to a virginia
library.