1829 WILLIAM WILBERFORCE. Autographed & Inscribed Work on Real Christianity Gifted while in Financial Despair.

A fantastically provenanced inscribed and autographed copy of Wilberforce's influential work on authentic versus cultural Christianity, A Practical View. 

The book's recipient was Robert Holford, who had been close friends with Wilberforce while at St John's College in 1775 and 1776. Holford was a man of some means by family inheritance, maintained the family estate on the Isle of Wight. A wealthy gentleman of means, art collector, and traveler, he was precisely the sort of person Wilberforce's book was aimed at. The LBS [Legacies of British Slave-Ownership] Project lists Holford as a slaver-owner as well. 

When Wilberforce was forced to rent out his Highwood estate in 1830 because of some financially ruinous decisions, he took up residence with son Samuel, who was then Incumbent on the Isle of Wight just a few miles from Holford's home. Wilberforce then financially desolate, gifts his still wealthy college chum with the present volume. 

Wilberforce, William. A Practical View of the Prevailing Religious System of Professed Christians in the Higher and Middle Classes of the Country, Contrasted with Real Christianity. London. Printed for Thomas Caddell. 1829. xvi + 391pp.

Original or contemporary paneled calf, blind-tooled panels, spine gilt with leather generally dry and worn. Front cover detached.

Inscribed entirely in Wilberforce's hand "To my Old College Friend Robt Holford Esqr this Book is presented as a slight pledge of the Cordial Regard of his Brother Johnian WWilberforce / Brighston 1st Oct 1830 Isle of Wight."

Should the purchaser wish to have crafted an appropriate book box or to have the volume re-spined, we will be glad to assist with our binder at actual cost.