ARNDT’S TRUE CHRISTIANITY, 1768 EDITION WITH 56 FINE WOOD-ENGRAVED EMBLEMS

(EMBLEM BOOK) ARNDT, Johann. Vier Geistreiche Bücher vom Wahren Christenthum. BOUND WITH: Paradieß-Gärtlein. [Lubingen]: [Johann] Heinrich Philipp Schramm, 1768, 1771. Two volumes bound in one. Thick octavo, contemporary full alum-tawed pigskin over beveled boards, leather clasps with metal catches. $350.

Later edition of Arndt’s popular Lutheran devotional work, True Christianity, in the original German, with double-page wood-engraved frontispiece and 56 full-page wood-engraved emblems. Bound with Arndt’s companion work, The Garden of Paradise, with frontispiece portrait of Arndt.

Arndt was an influential German Lutheran theologian active at the beginning of the 17th century. True Christianity is his most influential work. Its emphasis on the mystical union between the believer and Christ has served as the foundation for many devotional works, both Catholic and Protestant. True Christianity first published 1606-09; Garden of Paradise in 1612. Text in German, in gothic type. Early ownership inscription, dated 1784.

Title page cropped along inner margin and bound back in. Expert paper repairs to double-page frontispiece. Rear free endpaper renewed. Occasional light foxing. An attractive copy in contemporary binding.