1733: THE CHRISTIAN’S PATTERN: OR A TREATISE OF THE IMITATION OF CHRIST by Thomas à Kempis. 
 
CALF Leather ILLUSTRATED Book, published in 1733. It is the twelfth edition – Four books in one volume.
 
ILLUSTRATED WITH 5 FULL-PAGE ENGRAVINGS, including a FRONTISPIECE, and engravings at the start of each book. These are all present and accounted for. 
 
With 339pp, preface, contents, and 45pp at the rear containing “Meditations and Prayers for Sick Persons”, ALL-EDGE SPRINKLED PAGES, and in its ORIGINAL CALF BINDING. 
 
The Imitation of Christ is a Christian devotional book circa 1418 – 1427, first composed in medieval Latin. Thomas à Kempis was a German-Dutch canon regular (priest), born around 1380. This book was originally written in Latin by Thomas à Kempis, and it has been rendered into English, to which are added Meditations and Prayers for Sick Persons, by George Stanhope, Dean of Canterbury. 
 
THIS IS A FASCINATING HISTORICAL AND COMPREHENSIVE RELIGIOUS BOOK, NOW NEARLY 300 YEARS OLD. Printed by J. Ilive for J.J. and P. Knapton, R. Knaplock, D. Midwinter, B. Sprint, W. Innys and R. Manby, J. Osborn and T. Longman, R. Robinson, B. Barker, J. Hazard, T. Wotton, B. Motte, D. Brown and R. Williamson in 1733. The printer, Jacob Ilive, was born in 1705. He was a religious radical and spent time in prison, convicted of blasphemy. He was well known for his controversial and unorthodox religious views during the 18th century. 
 
INTERNALLY, THIS IS OVERALL NEAT AND CLEAN COPY FOR ITS AGE, WITH NO MISSING PAGES. THERE IS SOME LIGHT WEAR INSIDE AND WEAR TO THE COVER, WHICH IS IN A FRAGILE STATE. NEVERTHELESS, IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL CALF BINDING, WHICH IS NEARLY 300 YEARS OLD. PLEASE SEE THE DETAILS BELOW IN THE DESCRIPTION. 
 
This is BOUND IN THICK CALF LEATHER, OVER BOARDS, reminiscent of this period, with gilt borders, and there is a panelled spine with raised boards, and remnants of a gilt title. THE COVER IS INTACT, BUT DELICATE, AND THERE IS OVERALL WEAR. The front board is only attached to the spine through some of the threads used for binding, and there is a split down the long edge which adjoins the front board and spine. There are also cracks in the gutter between the back board and back free endpaper but are not in such a fragile state. The other wear includes rubbing to the leather, rips at the edges, and bumping to the corners. Please refer to the photographs provided for further details. 
 
Inside, the pages are lightly tanned. The frontispiece and title page have several light marks (see photo). Besides this, THE PAGES ARE IN AN OVERALL NEAT AND CLEAN STATE FOR THEIR AGE, BEARING IN MIND THAT THIS IS NEARLY 300 YEARS OLD, and there are just the occasional small or light marks and light or small creases on the pages. At the edge of a few pages there is a very small rip. There are also several pages which have a pinprick hole near the edge, but all the above are minimal and do not affect the text or illustrations. On the front pastedown there are remnants of pen or pencil, Although the barely visible inscription appears to have been reversed, and it may be that the front free endpaper has been pasted to the front pastedown and the pen or pencil is just visible from underneath. There is some pen on both the title page and back free endpaper, and some pencil written on page 339 (see photo). As afore mentioned, there are cracks in the gutter between the pastedowns and endpapers, and these are just held together by the threading. However, the main text block is tightly bound and secure. There are no missing pages. However, please note that there appears to be a printing error, as a few of the page numbers are out of sequence at the top. However, the text itself seems to flow in the correct sequence.  
 
Please study the photos carefully as to the condition of this book, as they do form part of the description. 
 
This measures approximately 20.5 cm by 13 cm and 3.2 cm wide. It weighs approximately 532 grams. 
 
Thank you so much for looking.