Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-11-12
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COLONIAL PRAYER-BoOK FOUND.
Mr.. Witty Finds Rare and N"iu-
able hook In Ont-of-Way Place.

The book collector Of Virginia. who has
been so diligently searching for the past
many years for copy Of Poe's
Tamerlane. may still have hope. There
was found In an out-of the-way place
where some book collectors search IN
Richmond this week by Mr. James II.
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 No.
Of the Pennsylvania Magazine. where its
biograph is given by Mr.. Charles
X. Hildebrun.
The first copy was among the books be-
queathed to the Historical Society Of
PENNSYLVANIA by the late John Clement,
OF Hadonheld. n. j.. and up TO that time
the book was unknown TO all biblio-
graphers and litergians. The titles are
three In number, and the book was print
ed and sold by William Parks, In VIII
liamsburg.' Va. In 11i0. The book was,
therefore printed seven years previous TO
Stith's History Of Virginia, and the vol
ume is a very early Virginia imprint, as
printers did not obtain a permanent foot
hold I'm this Colony until 1913, the at
tempt 10 put up press about l6S by
John Buckner having no imtator until
the arrival Of Parks in the year above
mentioned.
IL may be an interesting fact not gene
rally known in this connection that the
Virginia Historical Society has the only
early volume of the Virginia Gazette
which was published and commenced by
William Park in 1916. The prayer-book Is
Of great importance 10 the History OF VIZ
ginla. as its very existence goes TO show
the thoughts and feelings Of the people
during the earlier part Of the eighteenth
century IL would also indicate from
these two finds that the books had fair
circulation turning up as they have in
remote sections Mr. Whitty's copy was
evidently. as shown by the rotations
therein. once the property Of the we'll
known family Of "JohnsOns,' of 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 Anderson is
also recorded on the same page ana she
was evidently the wife OF Nicholas john
son. as other entries. that of Mary john
Kon &C Indicate that the book belonged
originally 10 that family.
The first edition of the book was pub
ushed in London in 1705 by Edmund
Bishop. OF London" IL is not a reprint
of the Book OF Common Prayer, but APP
pears TO be wholly of Bishop GiDson's
own composition, and, therefore no IN
fringemont OF the patent which protect
ed the publication of the ritual OF the
Tstablished church. At the date OF It's
Drst issue Dr. Gibson was rector oil
Lambeth. and did not become Bishop OF
London until 1923 Mr. Witty has care
fully examined the type and press WORK
OF the volume. which corresponds with
that used IN the Virginia Gazette OF
iT2s-'2S 1t is a different type, and more
than likely was printed on another press
than that used for the printing OF SUN ;
History of Virginia. The type used Is
MICA and long primer, and the makeup
and STYLE that used by Parks IN both the
Gazette and Stths History. The press
work and type Of Stith's History, now
over seems somewhat of an Improve
ment. and II Is more than likely that
Parks was very successful In his first ef-
forts. and improved his plant right along
and somewhere between l1iO and the date
az tho publication Of Stith's History Of
Virginia had secured new fonts OF type.
and improved or put up new press lor
his book-work. Tho book measures by
inches. and has an old binding. Ii Is
undoubtedly one OF the most valuable
crouisitions that has ever been made TO
a Virginia library.