Ecosse

1690 · rif. 6292 — Edinburgh: Printed by George Mosman issues 1-14; The Relict of George Mosman issues 15-18; The Relict of Andrew Anderson issues 19-23; The Heirs and Successors of Andrew Anderson issue 24; The Successors of Andrew Anderson issues 25-29; Thomas Lumisden and Company issue 30; Mr James Davidson and Robert Fleming issues 31-33 1690. 33 issues bound as 2 folio various paginations. Issues 21 1714 and 33 1726 each lacking final leaf of index. Contemporary panelled vol. 1 or marbled vol. 2 calf spines divided by raised bands between double gilt rules red and green morocco labels. Some scattered toning and soiling a number of gatherings in vol. 1 sprung but all present 2 leaves torn without loss. A little rubbed and scratched pastedowns in vol 1 lifted. A near-continuous run of the printed issues of the acts passed by the General Assembly the governing body of the Church of Scotland which has met annually to deliberate and legislate throughout the Church’s history. The run included here dates from 1690 when the Presbyterian governance of the church was enacted in Scots law to formalise the exclusion of the episcopal structure that had been controversially reintroduced after the Restoration to 1726 a few years before the First Succession of 1733 - a turbulent period in which the interaction between Church law and civil law was a live issue. The bindings of varying leather styles but with matching labels are probably the publisher’s - contemporary ads indicate that groups of issues were sold bound. Printed by George Mosman [issues 1-14]; The Relict of George Mosman [issues 15-18]; The Relict of Andrew Anderson [issues 19-23] hardcover