Very rare true first edition of John Brown's importation Dictionary of the Holy Bible. Only one other such work had been published for serious but popular use, aiming to make Scripture more genuinely usable at the local level. That was Thomas Wilson's [1563-1622] which had long been out of print.
And Brown turned out no small work, but a serious work attempting to help readers of Scripture situate persons, ideas, places, etc., theologically and missionally in the canon of Scripture, beautifully engraved fold-out maps, etc. [13 in all], More than a simple "dictionary," it could rightly be thought of as a theological dictionary of Scripture.
It went on, in various edited forms, often greatly reduced, to become the standard work for households for nearly 100 years with abridged versions published in family Bibles, etc.
The present volume is inscribed by John Arrol, a relative of John Brown of Haddington, and likely given to him by its author. A very nicely preserved set of the first edition of a landmark work.
A small curiosity of Brown's work is that the author estimated that 2016 would see the Millennium. I recall 2016. Brown missed it on that one.
Brown, John of Haddington. A Dictionary of the Holy Bible. Containing an Historical Account of the Persons; A Geographical and Historical Account of the Places; a Literal, Critical, and Systematical Description of other Objects; whether Natural, Artificial, Civil, Religious, or Military; And An Explication of the Appellative Terms Mentioned in the Writings of the Old and New Testament. The Whole Comprising Whatever important is known concerning the Antiquities of the Hebrew Nation and Church of God; forming a sacred Commentary; a Body of Scripture History, Chronology, and Divinity; and serving in a great Measure as a Concordance to the Bible. In Two Volumes. Edinburgh. Printed by John Gray and Gavin Alston. 1769. First Edition. 677 + 627pp.
Original full calf bindings with raised bands, very attractive, small nick at head of volume two, extremely sound, some rubbing at extremities and light bumping. Text exceptionally crisp and clean with all thirteen plates beautifully preserved, though as usual with misfolds and closed tears at hinging. One with corner torn, but present. One section of stains, but nothing significant.
