Science and Health
Boston: Christian Scientist Publishing Company, 1875. First edition. Hardcover. Fine. Item #20401 .
Thick 8vo. 456pp. Publisher's black patterned cloth; gilt spine title; plain endpapers. Errata page tipped-in at rear. One of 1000 copies of the first edition. A fine, bright copy, with only the barest traces of wear, notably at the head of the spine. Scarce to begin with, and rare in such fine condition. Housed in a custom morocco-backed clamshell case.
A landmark work, one that has been called by the Women's National Book Association one of the 75 books by women whose words have changed the world. Mary Baker Eddy was far ahead of her time in her development of her Eternal Mind philosophy. Together with the Bible, this is the key doctrinal source for the Church of Christ, Scientist.
"Science and Health" was brought out in an edition of 1000 copies. Three of Eddy's students paid the Boston printer to produce the edition. Even though it was started in 1874, the printer stopped work whenever the advance payments ran out. When it finally was published in 1875, it contained a "jungle of typographical errors". (PMM) These were magnified by the printer's attempt to make corrections on matters he did not understand. Upon publication, these errors were discovered and an errata slip was hastily inserted in as many copies as possible correcting the most blatant of them.
"Science and Health" was expanded and corrected many times in later years; indeed, Eddy continued to revise it until her death in 1910.
Provenance: Mrs E. S. Hay, 1880; ; H. P. Macintosh; W.. H. Price.
Howes, E42; Grolier 100 American. No. 78; Streeter 4281; Printing and the Mind of Man, 363.
Price: $8,000.00