Author: Priest, Josiah (1788–1851)
The Wonders of Nature and Providence, Displayed: Compiled from Authentic Sources, Both Ancient and Modern, Giving an Account of Various and Strange Phenomena Existing in Nature, of Travels, Adventures, Singular Providences—Hearken—stand still and consider the wondrous works of God. — Job.
This work stands as the crucial foundational artifact that launched the career of early America’s most commercially successful pseudo-historian, Josiah Priest. This scarce second variant printing was compiled to satisfy the voracious reading appetites of an early republic undergoing the cultural convulsions of the Second Great Awakening. Rather than an original narrative, the hefty 600-page work is a masterpiece of frontier curating—a sensationalized anthology of global catastrophes, deep-sea whirlpools, and dramatic captivity narratives designed to illustrate the erratic, terrifying hand of divine providence. For the book archaeologist, this physical copy offers an incredible glimpse into 1820s material culture and book commerce. It features a bold, contemporary provenance signature in iron-gall ink reading "John Williams cost $1-75"—a stark reminder of the premium financial value early New York frontier citizens placed on literature and folklore.
The Premium Illustrated Variant Run, unlike the ubiquitous unillustrated trade text blocks of 1826, this choice example represents the premier subscription issue, fully collated with the set of nine out of ten spectacular, copperplate and woodcut engravings (Lacking Plate 1.). Spanning biblical phenomena, apocryphal martyrdoms, anti-popery propaganda, and early American ethnographic renderings of Montezuma, this illustrated variant is highly prized for its complete material preservation.
Illustrations & Plates: This is a deluxe copy of the 1826 edition. While the standard 1826 trade issue was distributed as a text-only volume, Josiah Priest intentionally produced a premium, higher-priced variant run containing a full suite of ten dramatic engraved copperplate illustrations to entice wealthier frontier patrons.
We provide detailed photographs to allow you to assess the book's condition and aesthetic appeal.
