The Witness of the Stars.
London: Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1895. Second Edition. Hardcover, Octavo, (viii) + 204 pp (+ivpp.). Original blue cloth with superb gilt cover decoration and gilt titling to spine. Numerous plates of the constellations printed in white on a blue background, one of which is gate fold, and another a large fold-out planisphere. Black and white engravings in text. The author, Ethelbert William Bullinger (1837-1913), an Anglican clergyman and lifelong biblical scholar and ultradispensationalist theologian, examines the constellations mostly from the perspectives of ancient astronomical and mythological sources in the light of Biblical sources and Christian thought. He concludes that when properly understood the heavenly bodies are proof of God's design, and are a form of natural revelation, confirming Biblical fact and prophecy . The work is illustrated with numerous celestial charts and diagrams depicting the constellations. This is the second edition (1895) which is likely just the first edition (1893) reissued with a cancel title-page. Spine darkened, corners and edges of boards bumped, a little discoloration to the cloth and some rubbing at the head and tail of spine, points and edges. Original brown endpapers cracking but binding holding firm. Fore-edge of front free endpaper has a few tiny chips and tears, pale foxing / shadowing to first few leaves. Two closed tears in folding planisphere neatly repaired with acid-free tape. Overall a solid, generally clean, VG copy of a rather stunning and genuinely scarce early edition. Item #69900
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