DescriptionAllen, EthanReason the Only Oracle of Man, or a Compendious System of Natural Religion. Bennington, VT: Haswell & Russell, 1784
8vo (203 x 127 mm). Half-title, head-pieces of printer's ornaments; dampstaining to the first two quires, a few short closed marginal tears, scattered marginal spots, upper corners of a few leaves folded over. In contemporary sheep, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, second with red morocco label lettered in gilt; front hinge cracked but holding, partial loss to tailband, overall rubbed and worn, with corners exposed.
First edition of the first publication in the United States openly directed against the Christian religion. Sabin calls this "singular book ... the rarest of Allen's publications." Allen told a friend in 1785, "I Expect that the Clergy, and their devotees, will proclaim war with me, in the name of the Lord, his Battles they affect to fight ... But I am a hardy Mountainnear, and have been accustomed to the ravages, and horrors of War, and Captivity, and Scorn to be intimidated by threats, if they fright me, they must produce some of their tremendous fire, and give me a sensitive scorching." A fire in the publisher's shop destroyed most of the 1,500 copies printed. Mr. Haswell reportedly took the fire as a sign of divine disfavor and committed the remainder of the run to the flames, soon thereafter converting to Methodism. Scarcely any copies have survived, and only five copies have appeared at auction in the last 40 years.
Rare.
REFERENCE:Church 1201; Evans 18322; Sabin 802
PROVENANCE:George Wiekes (gift inscription to front free endpaper: "Presented by D. Owen ... 1872") — Stamford Village Library, donated by Frances Griffin (bookplate to pastedown)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.
DescriptionAllen, EthanReason the Only Oracle of Man, or a Compendious System of Natural Religion. Bennington, VT: Haswell & Russell, 1784
8vo (203 x 127 mm). Half-title, head-pieces of printer's ornaments; dampstaining to the first two quires, a few short closed marginal tears, scattered marginal spots, upper corners of a few leaves folded over. In contemporary sheep, spine with raised bands in 6 compartments, second with red morocco label lettered in gilt; front hinge cracked but holding, partial loss to tailband, overall rubbed and worn, with corners exposed.
First edition of the first publication in the United States openly directed against the Christian religion. Sabin calls this "singular book ... the rarest of Allen's publications." Allen told a friend in 1785, "I Expect that the Clergy, and their devotees, will proclaim war with me, in the name of the Lord, his Battles they affect to fight ... But I am a hardy Mountainnear, and have been accustomed to the ravages, and horrors of War, and Captivity, and Scorn to be intimidated by threats, if they fright me, they must produce some of their tremendous fire, and give me a sensitive scorching." A fire in the publisher's shop destroyed most of the 1,500 copies printed. Mr. Haswell reportedly took the fire as a sign of divine disfavor and committed the remainder of the run to the flames, soon thereafter converting to Methodism. Scarcely any copies have survived, and only five copies have appeared at auction in the last 40 years.
Rare.
REFERENCE:Church 1201; Evans 18322; Sabin 802
PROVENANCE:George Wiekes (gift inscription to front free endpaper: "Presented by D. Owen ... 1872") — Stamford Village Library, donated by Frances Griffin (bookplate to pastedown)Condition reportCondition as described in catalogue entry.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.
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