A Rational Catechism.
Amsterdam: Printed for the Widow of J.J. Schipper, 1712. Second edition, not so stated, dedicated to the author’s “dearest daughters,” with a long quote from Locke’s On Education on the title-page. The work is a significant distillation of the principles of toleration, first published in 1687. Edges sprinkled red. Binding extremities slightly worn and boards a bit scratched. Front joint cracked, but sound. The Macclesfield copy, with the blindstamps, shelf marks, and the South Library bookplate. A very good copy, clean copy. . Contemporary mottled calf. Gilt spine, tooled in compartments, yellow silk ribbon marker. Twelvemo. [xiv], 106 pp. Item #15978
William Popple (1638-1708) was the nephew of Andrew Marvell and was educated under his guidance. He was a successful merchant in Hull before moving to Bordeaux, where he lived from 1670 to 1688. After returning to London he met William Penn, and became secretary of the Dry Club, established by John Locke to debate issues of religious liberty. He also translated Locke's Letter on Toleration (1689) from the Latin. When Locke was appointed a commissioner of the Board of Trade in 1696, Popple became the board's secretary. Though this is a dialogue between a father and son, the dedication to his daughters states: “I am desirous that it may be a common memorial of me unto all of you, when I shall be no more, I therefore make it yours also by this dedication: And for the same reason, I have likewise added unto it a copy of that advice which I formerly gave him, in such verse as my unpractised Muse then dictated..."
Not noted in Yolton.
Price: $2,000.00