The Spiritual Telescope: being a Solemn Inquiry respecting the World of Spirits, and the Intermediate State of Man from his Death to his Resurrection.
London: M. Jones, ND. (1804). First Edition. Hardcover. Small octavo. 64pp. Superb period-style full leather craft binding by renowned London book-binder, Bernard C. Middleton. Brown calf, with blind stamped rules and decorations to front board and gilt stamped leather title label between raised bands. Marbled endpapers. A most uncommon proto-Spiritualist work: to quote one contemporary review "The author of this pamphlet endeavours 'to prove from divine authority, that the immortal spirit of man does not sleep in its intermediate state' but quits these terrestrial regions, and soars to the skies, to unite in company with the disembodied spirits of the Saints." A contemporary biographical dictionary identifies the author as one John Bentley, who also wrote "The Divine Logos, or Jehovah Elohim, the only proper Object of Christian Worship" as well as several other works and "some papers in Asiatick Researches." Genuinely rare - no copies listed on Worldcat. From the collection of Dr. M. H. Coleman, with his blind-stamped ex-libris seal on the first front blank. Binding has a hint of rubbing, otherwise near-Fine condition, pages lightly browned, and with a few mild traces of age, still a lovely, complete VG+ copy. Item #49799
Sold