A New System, or, an Analysis of Ancient Mythology: Wherein an Attempt is made to divest Tradition of Fable; and to reduce the Truth to its Original Purity. Vols I - III

London: T Payne; P Elmsly; B White; and J Walter, 1775 A very good 3 volume set with 29 plates (some text engravings) and 3 maps as called for in contemporary full calf bindings. Jacob Bryant (1715-1804) is chiefly known for this work which attempts to link the mythologies of the world to stories and events in the book of Genesis. It was seen as an important publication and is credited with influencing the work of William Blake. Blake was apprenticed to the engraver James Basire whose name appears at the bottom of most of the plates, and is believed to have worked on them. The bindings are in very good clean condition and have been rebacked at some point, retaining the original spines with gilt decorative compartments and red title labels. The boards are in very good condition with some corner wear. The marbled endpapers look to be contemporary with repair at the joints. There is the armorial bookplate of William Orme Foster (1814-1899) to the front pastedowns. He was an iron and coal-master, owning the firm of John Bradley and Co, and was MP for South Staffordshire 1857-68. All 3 volumes have page markers and all page edges have been yellowed. Volumes I & II are 2nd edition; Vol III is a 1st. Vol I: half title; title; preface pp v-xvii; blank; plate list p xix; text 1-516 with 10 'plates' of which the final is un-numbered and inserted at the end of the text. Vol II: half title; title; plate list pp iii-vi; text pp 1-535 with 19 plates (one by Cipriani and one by Chambars) - the final plate un-numbered and at the end of the text. Vol III: half title; title 1776; preface pp v-viii; text pp 1-601 with 3 maps, 2 of which are folding and one of which is credited to Basire. There is a final engraving before the Finis. Contents are in very good condition. The occasional page is toned and there is very occasional spotting, mostly on the final blanks. There is offsetting from the plates, only one of which is tissue-guarded. The offsetting affects pages before and after the plate. There are a couple of ink amendments to mistypes in Vol III. The rear bottom corner of Vol II is quite fragile as are the front corners of Vol III.