1684 John Lightfoot — The Temple, 70-Leaf Folio Section

1684 John Lightfoot — The Temple, 70-Leaf Folio Section

Complete Architectural and Historical Tract with Interior Title and Alphabetical Index

ITEM OVERVIEW

Author: John Lightfoot, D.D. (1602–1675)

Title: The Temple, Especially As It Stood in the Days of Our Saviour

Source Volume: The Works of the Reverend and Learned John Lightfoot, D.D.

Edition: First Edition of the collected works

Publication Year: 1684

Place of Publication: London, England

Printers: W.R. for Robert Scott, Thomas Basset, Richard Chiswell, and John Wright

Format: Large Folio / Imperial Folio

Approximate Leaf Size: 9½ × 14¾ inches

Extent: 70 physical folio leaves

Contents: Original title page, historical and architectural text, interior section title, and alphabetical index

HISTORICAL OVERVIEW

Offered here is a substantial original seventeenth-century folio section containing John Lightfoot's study, The Temple, Especially As It Stood in the Days of Our Saviour, from the 1684 first edition of his collected works.

John Lightfoot (1602–1675) was an English clergyman and distinguished biblical scholar whose research drew extensively upon Hebrew language, Jewish literature, rabbinical commentary, and the historical context of Scripture.

In this work, Lightfoot examines the Jerusalem Temple as it stood during the time of Christ, drawing upon biblical passages and Jewish historical and literary sources to explore its structure, organization, and religious significance.

The work is of particular interest to collectors of antiquarian biblical scholarship, seventeenth-century theology, Jewish and Christian history, and early studies of the Jerusalem Temple.

TYPOGRAPHICAL AND STRUCTURAL FEATURES

This substantial unit comprises 70 physical folio leaves, preserving the main text and a concluding eight-leaf alphabetical index.

Notable features include:

The original 1684 title page.

The interior section title, “A PROSPECT OF THE TEMPLE.”

Large-format seventeenth-century letterpress typography.

Hebrew and Greek characters incorporated into the printed text.

Traditional chapter divisions, marginal references, and printer's catchwords.

A surviving alphabetical index at the conclusion.

The large folio format and extensive text make this a substantial historical section rather than a single isolated leaf or short extract.

PAGINATION IRREGULARITY

This unit contains a striking irregularity in its printed page numbering.

The first sequence runs from pages 1049–1104, concluding with Chapter XXI. The following sequence begins at page 2005 with Chapter XXII and continues through page 2070.

The abrupt numerical leap appears to be a period printing or pagination error. The chapter transitions and printer's catchwords have been examined and appear to maintain continuity across this change. The printed numerals themselves are original to the text.

The text concludes with the surviving eight-leaf alphabetical index. The pagination irregularity is documented here as a feature of the surviving printed material.

CONDITION REPORT

Overall Condition: Good to Very Good for a substantial seventeenth-century folio section, with notable age-related wear and moisture staining.

The section comprises 70 physical leaves in a substantial conjoined arrangement. The paper retains considerable substance in many areas, and the printed text has been checked and remains readable throughout.

Paper and Printing: The handmade rag paper retains much of its original body and strength. The dark letterpress remains readable, including in areas affected by staining. No modern annotations, ink stamps, underlining, or reader highlighting have been observed.

Moisture Staining and Age-Toning: The leaves display varying degrees of historic moisture staining, ranging from light discoloration to heavier amber staining and darker tide marks. On several pages, the staining extends into the printed text area. The staining is dry, and the text remains readable despite the discoloration.

Edge Wear and Paper Loss: The primary title page has a missing portion at the blank lower-right corner margin. Several leaves show curled, bent, or distorted lower corner tips. The final index leaf exhibits edge-fraying and pronounced natural deckling.

Overall Assessment: Although the section displays noticeable staining and localized physical damage, it retains its substantial text, important interior title, and concluding alphabetical index. Condition varies from leaf to leaf, with some leaves presenting more attractively than others.

A SUBSTANTIAL PIECE OF SEVENTEENTH-CENTURY SCHOLARSHIP

This 1684 Lightfoot section preserves a considerable body of historical and theological material in its original large-folio format. Its Temple-focused subject matter, interior title, extensive text, and surviving alphabetical index make it a noteworthy offering for collectors interested in the historical study of Scripture and the religious world of the seventeenth century.

Its age and physical condition are part of its documented history, and the listing presents both its scholarly significance and its observed imperfections transparently.

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Collection Reference: AS- 1059

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