Lewis, John.

8vo, first edition, limited to 150 copies,  engraved frontispiece, engraved initials and headings, later eighteenth-century  orange-red morocco, covers with gilt-rule border enclosing a gilt dog-tooth roll border, gilt roll-tooled central panels with crown and sceptre corner ornaments, spine in six compartments with raised bands, marbled endpapers, gilt edges, some slight offsetting to endpapers, edges of binding slightly worn, spine slightly faded

John Denne, friend of the author, his ownership signature on the title-page; Joseph Neeld, bookplate; Estelle Doheny, the sale of her library at Christie's New York, Part IV, 17/18 October 1988, lot1452

The Church of England clergyman and antiquary John Denne (1693–1767),  was learned in ecclesiastical history and contributed materials for the present work. He published three other historical works and fifteen sermons.

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, when appropriate.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

first edition of the first full-length biography of william caxton, by the Church of England clergyman and antiquary John Lewis (1675-1747). It was printed for a limited number of fellow antiquaries, in an edition of only 150 copies.

Lewis's remarkable work  is an extensive biographical study, following on from Conyers Middleton's Dissertation Concerning the Origin of Printing in England (Cambridge, 1735). Subsequent biographers such as Ames, Herbert and Dibdin relied heavily on Lewis.