Sturm's Reflections For Every Day In The Year, On The Works Of God, And Of His Providence Throughout All Nature.
In Two Volumes - This Being Volume 1 Only
By Christoph Christian Sturm
Published by T. Murphy: London 1839
In Original Bindings With Frontis & Vignette
"Sturm's Reflections for Every Day in the Year, on the Works of God, and of His Providence Throughout All Nature is a classic work of Christian natural theology by Christoph Christian Sturm (1740-1786), the German Lutheran pastor and devotional writer whose reflections on the natural world became widely popular throughout Europe and Britain. Arranged as a series of meditations for the days of the year, Sturm considers the changing seasons, plants, animals, the human body, the heavens and innumerable natural phenomena as manifestations of divine wisdom and providence. The work combines religious devotion with the eighteenth-century fascination for observing and understanding nature, encouraging the reader to see the physical world not simply scientifically, but as evidence of the order and benevolence of its Creator.
This attractive 1839 London edition, published by T. Murphy of Denmark Terrace, Barnsbury Road, Islington, was issued in two volumes, with this copy being Volume I only. The text opens with A Meditation upon New-year's Day and proceeds through its succession of daily reflections, concluding at page 385 with "End of Vol. I." Of particular appeal is the illustrated opening, with an engraved frontispiece by Pallithorpe facing a separately engraved and illustrated title page, Sturm's Reflections, Vol. I., carrying the maxim "Every thing is planted in wisdom, and produced in perfection." The conventional printed title page follows and is dated 1839; the volume was printed by John Leighton, Johnson's Court, Fleet Street.
The book remains in its handsome original dark green embossed cloth binding, decorated across the boards and spine in characteristic early-Victorian blind-stamped patterns, with the spine retaining its gilt-lettered "Sturm's Reflections I" panel. The binding shows expected age and wear, particularly around the spine and extremities, while the pages display pleasant general toning and occasional spotting consistent with a book approaching two centuries old. An early handwritten ownership inscription survives on the front pastedown, adding further period character. With its original binding, engraved frontispiece and pictorial title vignette, this is an appealing 1839 devotional volume illustrating the close relationship between Christianity, natural history and the contemplation of nature in the early Victorian period."
Light wear and fading to covers and spines as shown. Contemporary inscription present. Some light foxing and age toning present. Binding in excellent shape with no loose pages. An excellent copy in very good condition overall. Please study photos to further understand condition.
