THE LIFE OF MOHAMMAD, EXQUISITELY BOUND IN FULL CALF-GILT WITH AN ELABORATE COVER INLAY DEPICTING A BEAUTIFUL MOSQUE

(MOHAMMED) BUSH, George. The Life of Mohammed; Founder of the Religion of Islam, and of the Empire of the Saracens. New York: Printed by J. & J. Harper, 1831. Small octavo, modern brown calf gilt, pictorial morocco cover inlay of a mosque, raised bands, marbled endpapers and edges. $1650.

"Stereotype Edition" of this controversial biography of the prophet Mohammed, founder of Islam, with folding frontispiece illustration of the Sacred Temple of Mecca, beautifully bound in full calf-gilt with a lovely multi-colored cover inlay of a domed mosque.

Bush's The Life of Mohammed was the first American biography of Islam's founder. The Reverend George Bush was a Presbyterian missionary whose theological studies eventually led him to become a professor of Hebrew and oriental literature at New York University. Bush decided to write this book out of a belief that Islam was Christian heresy and, thus, was deeply tied to the Christian Church and its early development. While Bush's views on Islam are uncompromising, he is occasionally more measured in his assessments of Mohammed: Bush accuses Mohammed of perpetrating a hoax, but credits him with attractiveness and being "remarkable." In the years that followed, Bush would grant other religious groups similar treatment until he eventually became a Swedenborgian. The first edition was published in 1830. With single leaf of advertisements.

Two minor expertly repaired closed tears to folding frontispiece, binding fine. Very nearly fine condition.