A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols.)

G. Lane & C.B. Tippett, New York, 1845. Third Ed., Revised and Corrected. Hardcover (Full Leather). Very Good Condition. Book Scarce matched set of Bang’s history, which chronicles Methodism from its introduction in New York City in 1766 up through the General Conference of 1840. Banks provides a tremendous amount of detail, including regular updates on membership. Each of the volumes has a frontispiece. This set went through several editions by various publishers from Mason and Lane’s First Edition in 1838 on. However, a complete set from the same printing is difficult to find. Although a WorldCat search found multiple holdings, most of them turned out to be only one or two volumes. Only two libraries (under two OCLC numbers) reported a complete set of the 1845 printing: William Clements Library at the University of Michigan (244673815) and the Claremont School of Theology Library (874344217). Size: 6"-7" - Sextodecimo (16mo). 4-volume set (complete). Item Type: Book. The text blocks are tight. The pages are slightly tanned from age with the printed area of the pages darker than the margins. Bound in matching sheepskin with double gilt lines to separate the spine into six compartments, the title in gilt on black morocco labels and the volume number stamped in gilt in the fourth compartment. The sheepskin is heavily worn around the edges with some surface loss, particularly on Vol. 4. There is a 1 1/2" crack at the head of the front hinge of Vol. 3 and a 3/4" crack at the head of the front hinge of Vol. 4. There is also a 3/8" horizontal hole under the label on the spine of Vol. 3 and a 3/4" area of biopredation on the rear hinge of the spine. The inside hinges of all four volumes are in strong with no breaks in the endpapers or cords. The boards are generally straight, but the rear board of Vol. 3 is bowed in and the front board of Vol. 4 is bowed out. There is heavy foxing to the pages at the beginning and end of the text blocks and moderate foxing throughout the rest of the pages. The frontispiece plate of Vol. 1 is heavily foxed, as is the facing tissue. Even with the tissue, the foxing has carried through to the title page. The frontispiece plate of Vol. 2 is only lightly foxed with a shadow on the facing tissue, which has largely protected the title page. The frontispiece page of Vol. 3 is darkened with a shadow of the plate on the facing tissue, which has protected the title page (though there is a darker band where the tissue has not covered the page). The frontispiece page of Vol. 4 has light foxing also affecting the tissue and the facing title page. The top page edges are darkened from exposure. The side and bottom page edges have been decorated with a brown speckle. Quantity Available: 1. Category: Religion & Theology; Methodist Episcopal Church -- History; History. Main Picture: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Front cover and spines. Picture 2: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Rear cover and page edges. Picture 3: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Composite of frontispiece and title page for Vol III (with the tissue pulled back). Picture 4: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Two-page spread that begins the account of the church in America. Picture 5: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Two-page spread with the account of Francis Asbury's death. Picture 6: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Two-page spread with convention discussion of separation from Virginia's churches over slavery in 1780. Picture 7: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Two-page spread with discussion of "the great evil of slavery" in 1824. Picture 8: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - Beginning of the list of preachers' names at the end of Vol. IV. Picture 9: Nathan Bangs, A History of the Methodist Episcopal Church (4 Vols., 1845) - End of Bang's introduction with his signature in print. Pictures of this item not already displayed here available upon request. Inventory No: 1258. .