CALVIN, INSTITUTIO CHRISTIANIAE RELIGIONIS, GENEVA, ESTIENNE, 1559, MODERN CALF

folio (335 x 218mm.), woodcut printer's device on title-page, woodcut initials, a few later manuscript annotations in English, modern calf, retaining old flyleaves (with a pot watermark, similar to Heawood 3680ff., all English, second half of seventeenth century), blank section at head of title-page excised and replaced, title-page slightly stained, first 2 leaves frayed at edges, a few wormholes in lower margin (just touching text), head of textblock slightly dampstained throughout, staining to head of upper cover, upper joint slightly cracked at head

Erskine of Dun (Angus), armorial bookplate, plausibly David Erskine, 13th Laird of Dun, 1670-1758 (an ancestor of the Erskine family was John Erskine of Dun, 1509-1591, a key player in the development of the Reformation in Scotland who had spent time on the Continent in the 1530s)

IA 129.952; Renouard, Estienne p.89

Condition is described in the main body of the cataloguing, where 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 published in Basel in 1536, this is considered the definitive edition of Calvin's textbook on Protestant theology and doctrine. It was revised and greatly extended from the first edition, though it still contains the preface addressed to François I of France, in which Calvin entreats him to give Protestants fair consideration and attempts to correct some common misapprehensions about them, in particular distancing them from the radical Anabaptists in Germany.