Pilgrim's Progress, 22nd edition, 1728
May 4, 2012
For some thirty years I have been collecting interesting editions of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. I
have about 75 copies. For the past six years I have been seeking the
22nd edition, published in 1728. Finally my bookseller, Robert Kirkman
of Bedfordshire, UK, obtained a copy and offered it to me. I jumped at
it and it arrived today. It will be the capstone of my collection, since
any earlier edition would be exceedingly rare and expensive. This one
was not cheap, but I justified the purchase as an investment that can
only increase in value. Also, this edition was the first to be published
as a fine book in larger format than the early editions. Bunyan died in
1688, so this copy was printed just 40 years after his death. Here is
Mr. Kirkman's description of the book.
Title: The Pilgrim's Progress, From This World to that Which is to Come,
Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream, Wherein is discover'd The Manner
of his Setting Out, His Dangerous Journey, and Safe Arrival at the Desired
Country, In Two Parts, Complete, The Two and Twentieth Edition, adorned with
Twenty-Two Copper Plates, engraved by J. Sturt, London, 1728; The Pilgrim's
Progress From This World to that which is to Come, Part 11, Delivered under
the Similitude of a Dream, Wherein is set forth, The Manner of the Setting
out of Christian's Wife and Children, their Dangerous Journey, and Safe
Arrival at the Desired Country, London, Printed for John Clarke, at the
Golden Ball in Duck Lane, 1727
Author: BUNYAN (John), .
Publisher: Printed for J. Clarke at the Golden Ball in Duck-Lane and J.
Brotherton at the Bible next the Fleece-Tavern in Cornhill - 1727
Description: FIRST COMPLETE EDITION containing two parts, also First John
Sturt Illustrated Edition, with both printed title pages of which the first
is printed within two line border, with copper engraved portrait
frontispiece and 21 copper engraved plates, all plates proofs before letters
except frontispiece and plate at page 45, 8vo. (pp. 213 + 196), with 2-page
publisher's advertisements at end, eighteenth century full brown calf, two
line gilt borders on sides, re-spined, red and green leather
lettering-pieces, date in gilt at foot of spine, endpapers renewed with
antique paper, signature of Dinah Chambers in an early handwriting on blank
verso of frontispiece. The first complete edition containing the two parts,
printed only 40 years after Bunyan's death and 100 years after his birth.
This edition was a landmark celebrating the centenary of Bunyan's birth.
Publishing for the first time two parts in one volume where previously the
parts were printed separately. This was the first well produced edition of
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress illustrated with fine copper engraved plates by
John Sturt produced for the castle rather than the cottage. Earlier editions
were cheaply printed in 12mo size with crude woodcuts. John Sturt, 1658 -
1730, engraver was apprenticed to Robert White who is known for his portrait
of Bunyan now in the British Museum. The British Library General Catalogue
of Printed Books lists this edition as the First Complete Edition containing
the two parts. Following those editions printed during Bunyan's lifetime
this must be the next most desirable of all the early editions. RARE.Worn
copy but complete, sides a little worn but binding re-spined and now sound,
frontispiece browned and repaired on blank recto of frontispiece, one plate
repaired without loss of engraved surface and accompanying leaf of text
repaired without loss, six other leaves with smaller repairs without loss,
corner of leaf of publisher's advertisements at end repaired, blank corner
of a couple of leaves creased, contents of the first part grubby which
diminishes in the second part. All the copper engraved plates in this copy
are proofs before letters except the frontispiece and plate at page 45 which
may have been supplied from another copy nevertheless copies are rare in any
condition.
Title: The Pilgrim's Progress, From This World to that Which is to Come,
Delivered under the Similitude of a Dream, Wherein is discover'd The Manner
of his Setting Out, His Dangerous Journey, and Safe Arrival at the Desired
Country, In Two Parts, Complete, The Two and Twentieth Edition, adorned with
Twenty-Two Copper Plates, engraved by J. Sturt, London, 1728; The Pilgrim's
Progress From This World to that which is to Come, Part 11, Delivered under
the Similitude of a Dream, Wherein is set forth, The Manner of the Setting
out of Christian's Wife and Children, their Dangerous Journey, and Safe
Arrival at the Desired Country, London, Printed for John Clarke, at the
Golden Ball in Duck Lane, 1727
Author: BUNYAN (John), .
Publisher: Printed for J. Clarke at the Golden Ball in Duck-Lane and J.
Brotherton at the Bible next the Fleece-Tavern in Cornhill - 1727
Description: FIRST COMPLETE EDITION containing two parts, also First John
Sturt Illustrated Edition, with both printed title pages of which the first
is printed within two line border, with copper engraved portrait
frontispiece and 21 copper engraved plates, all plates proofs before letters
except frontispiece and plate at page 45, 8vo. (pp. 213 + 196), with 2-page
publisher's advertisements at end, eighteenth century full brown calf, two
line gilt borders on sides, re-spined, red and green leather
lettering-pieces, date in gilt at foot of spine, endpapers renewed with
antique paper, signature of Dinah Chambers in an early handwriting on blank
verso of frontispiece. The first complete edition containing the two parts,
printed only 40 years after Bunyan's death and 100 years after his birth.
This edition was a landmark celebrating the centenary of Bunyan's birth.
Publishing for the first time two parts in one volume where previously the
parts were printed separately. This was the first well produced edition of
Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress illustrated with fine copper engraved plates by
John Sturt produced for the castle rather than the cottage. Earlier editions
were cheaply printed in 12mo size with crude woodcuts. John Sturt, 1658 -
1730, engraver was apprenticed to Robert White who is known for his portrait
of Bunyan now in the British Museum. The British Library General Catalogue
of Printed Books lists this edition as the First Complete Edition containing
the two parts. Following those editions printed during Bunyan's lifetime
this must be the next most desirable of all the early editions. RARE.Worn
copy but complete, sides a little worn but binding re-spined and now sound,
frontispiece browned and repaired on blank recto of frontispiece, one plate
repaired without loss of engraved surface and accompanying leaf of text
repaired without loss, six other leaves with smaller repairs without loss,
corner of leaf of publisher's advertisements at end repaired, blank corner
of a couple of leaves creased, contents of the first part grubby which
diminishes in the second part. All the copper engraved plates in this copy
are proofs before letters except the frontispiece and plate at page 45 which
may have been supplied from another copy nevertheless copies are rare in any
condition.
4 comments:
David,
I have this same copy. Do you know the current value?
Regards,
David
Dear David,
I am collector of editions of Pilgrims Progress and I haven't yet acquired the 1728 version. I am researching the illustrations and wondered if you could help. It says 22 copper plates, is that including the Bunyan portrait? Which are they, the 1737 folio only has 20.
With man thanks and best wishes,
Mark
Suffolk, England
If I still have it, I don't know where it is (still looking). I have a 1741
Dear David,
I am also interested in the 22nd edition plates but for a special reason. I have been working on the engraver, Richard Cooper senior (1701-64) for some time and I have just found a ref. on the British Museum print room site to this edition. It notes that some of the plates are by Cooper and Henry Fletcher, both of whom collaborated on a frontispiece for 'The Vineyard' by S.J.
https://sites.google.com/site/richardcooperengraver/home/richard-cooper---life-chronology
Have you managed to track your copy down yet?
I would really like to have very simple copies ('phone snaps') of the Cooper/Fletcher plates so that I can relates them to other engravings. Is there any chance you could help? This edition is not available on Eighteenth Century Collections.
Many thanks,
Joe
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