1857 LORENZO DOW. Rare MSs Sermon, Autograph & Biography of New England's Eccentric Revivalist.

A very rare specimen for those interested in revivalism, Methodism, the Second Great Awakening, etc., Dow's autograph is notoriously elusive and only two letters in his hand are extant. 

The present volume, formerly in an institutional collection, contains a neatly tipped in partial sermon or publication manuscript, being the second point from one of his most influential works, appearing as early as "The Opinions of Lorenzo Dow" in 1804 and re-issued in the work offered here. 7 lines plus the autograph, circa 50 words. 

Lorenzo Dow [1777-1834] was the most popular preacher of his era, preaching to more people than any other in the world at the time, a sort of revivalist Billy Graham. His autobiography was, for many years, only outsold by the Bible. He typified, perhaps even caricatured, the Second Great Awakening period; he was a loud, searching, physical preacher and almost single-handedly invented what we today think of as the "camp-meeting," revivalist, or Pentecostal style of preaching. He is often credited with having introduced camp-meetings to America after his association with the Primitive Methodists in the UK. Adding to all of this, he reported in graphic detail accounts of personal dreams and visions from God . . . undoubtedly, he was the most popular iteration of the more charismatic elements of the Cane Ridge revival, etc.

Dow, Lorenzo. History of Cosmopolite: Or, the Writings of Rev. Lorenzo Dow: Containing His Experiences and Travels, in Europe and America, up to Near his Fiftieth Year. Also, His Polemic Writings. To which is Added, The "Journey of Life," by Peggy Dow. Revised and Corrected with Notes. Sixth Edition. Cincinnati: H. M. Rulison. Queen City Publishing House. 1857. 

An attractive, though worn copy. Early respine, decorative calf with loss at base, remnants of institutional markings; boards rubbed with original blind-tooled calf. Early donation printed label and library lithographed label from the Margaret Reaney [1815-1893] Memorial Library of Johnsonville, New York. Small ink rubber stamp name on title, probably prior to Reaney's ownership. Else generally good, solid and clean. A very scarce item.