Saybrook Platform - photo 1
Saybrook Platform - photo 2

Saybrook Platform

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$ 138 600
Auction dateClassic
25.05.2022 17:00UTC -04:00
Auctioneer
CHRISTIE'S
Event location
USA, New York
Archive
The auction is completed. No bids can be placed anymore.
Archive
ID 752802
Lot 20 | Saybrook Platform
Saybrook PlatformNew London, 1710SAYBROOK PLATFORM – A Confession of Faith Owned and Consented to by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches in the Colony of Connecticut in New-England, Assembled by Delegation at Say-Brook September 9th, 1708. New London: Thomas Short, 1710 [but 1711]. Lefferts copy of the first edition of the Saybrook Platform, long thought the first book printed in Connecticut, in a contemporary binding—"one of the most important books printed in the eighteenth century" (Streeter). Although the Puritans had fled the hierarchical organization of the Church of England to seek freedom in America, they soon came to see that there are some advantages of centralization. With the growing perception of declining orthodoxy amongst the second generation of settlers, conservatives pushed for a change from the hyper-local Congregationalism of the early pilgrims. "The Saybrook Platform, adopted at a synod meeting called by the Connecticut legislature and held at Saybrook in September 1708, modified the Cambridge Platform by emphasizing rule by councils of church leaders, rather than by the individual congregations within themselves. The adoption of the Saybrook platform made the church in Connecticut practically a form of Presbyterianism and resulted in a rigid orthodoxy" (ibid.). The title page of the Saybrook Platform is dated 1710 though printing did not begin until the fall, and it was not finished until 1711. The printer, Thomas Short, had moved to New London from Boston in 1709. Early in life he had been captured by Native Americans and was ransomed, probably by the Boston printer Bartholomew Green, who taught him his trade. The only extant book printed in Connecticut preceding this one is Eliphat Adams's pamphlet The Necessity of Judgment. Only two complete copies of the present work have appeared at auction since the Streeter copy, all of which were missing the initial blank, which is present here. The present copy also bears several early ownership inscriptions, including that of a woman: Mary Church. Church 844; Johnson, New London Imprints 13; Streeter sale 663; Sabin 15447; Evans 1486. Octavo (154 x 90mm). Title within woodcut rule (cropped a little at top edge, toned, small repair at upper gutter of first three leaves, some staining around edges). Contemporary ruled sheep (rebacked with endpapers renewed). Morocco pull-off case. Provenance: Mary Church (effaced inscription) – Joseph Lothrops (gift inscription from his friend Joshua Hutchen, 1754) – Marshall C. Lefferts (1848-1928; morocco book label, purchased along with the remainder of the collection by New York dealer George H. Richmond in 1901).
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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25.05.2022 – 25.05.2022
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