William Whiston was an historian, mathematician and theologian who was mentored by Isaac Newton and succeeded him at Cambridge as the Lucasian Professor of Mathematics. He is known for his translations of the “Antiquities of the Jews” and other works of Josephus. In this text, “A New Theory of the Earth”, he promotes ideas that were well-received during his lifetime regarding the creation of the Earth with regards to Biblical references. He defended three main ideas, that the scriptures are to be taken literally, that which is clearly accountable in a natural way is not miraculous and that ancient tradition, when speaking of Nature, is true “where agreeable to scripture, reason, and philosophy.” In acceptable condition, the boards are off and others substituted to protect the block; they are not bound on. The spine is split but all pages are present as are the illustrations which varied from edition to edition. This is the fourth. Loyola College de-accessioned this volume in 1958 but it has several library stamps. And someone has written, “Rob Jorsuch” on several different pages. These are in at least three places within. The illustrations begin with a page marked “Systema Solare” and have seven plates including a fold-out dealing with eclipses. The block is split between pages 270 and 271 but no pages are missing and no impingement on the text. There is foxing throughout and edgewear from handling as well as the occasional tidemark and spot. Dedicated to Isaac Newton.

Acceptable Condition: 8vo: replaced boards not bound on but for support: split leather spine: no frontispiece: Library stamps from Loyola College in Baltimore: pages chipped at front: occasional ink marks including on front spare, title page (library markings) and within the text on the margins: foxing, soiling and edgewear: “A New Theory of the Earth from its Original, to the Consummation of all Things. Wherein the Creation of the World in Six Days, the Universal Deluge and the General Conflagration, as laid down in the Holy Scriptures, are shown to be perfectly Agreeable to Reason and Philosophy”: William Whiston: Fourth Edition: London: Sam. Tooke And Benj. Motte: 1725

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