Divine and Moral Songs for Children; illustrated in the new graphotype engraving process by W. Holman Hunt [et al.]. By Isaac Watts. LONDON : 1867.

London: James Nisbet & Co, 21 Berners Street , 1867. First Edition Thus . Hardcover. Near Fine. Folio - 12 x 10 Inches Tall. Illustrated in the new graphotype engraving process by W. Holman Hunt [et al.].. LONDON : 1867. **An attractive binding.** [ Undated; the British Library dates as 1867.]. First Edition thus. Hardback. Illustrations: 27 plates (including frontispiece; portrait of Watts), 9 illustrations in text, head and tailpieces, ornaments, borders, etc., by the graphotype engraving process. Text within ornamental borders. Original green sand-grained cloth; gilt lettered spine and cover. Bevelled boards; blind-stamped decoration. Black end-papers. All edges gilt. Neat owner inscription; to Ada Thompson., from Lady Fisher dated 1869; no internal markings. Bright, tight and clean. NEAR FINE. (vi), 76 pages. ISAAC WATTS (1674-1748) is recognised as the 'Father of English Hymnody', as he was the first prolific and popular English hymnwriter, credited with some 750 hymns. Many of his hymns remain in active use today and have been translated into many languages. Born in Southampton, Watts was brought up in the home of a committed Nonconformist - his father, also Isaac Watts, had been incarcerated twice for his controversial views. At King Edward VI School (where one of the houses is now named "Watts" in his honour), he learned Latin, Greek and Hebrew. Watts, unable to go to either Oxford or Cambridge due to his Non-conformity, went to the Dissenting Academy at Stoke Newington in 1690, and much of his life centred around that village, then a rural idyll but now part of Inner London. He died in Stoke Newington and was buried in Bunhill Fields, having left behind him a massive legacy, not only of hymns, but also of treatises, educational works, essays and the like. His work was influential amongst independents and early religious revivalists in his circle, amongst whom was Philip Doddridge, who dedicated his best known work to Watts. On his death, Isaac Watts' papers were given to Yale University, an institution with which he was connected due to its being founded predominantly by fellow Independents (Congregationalists). Folio; approx. 12 x 10 inches. . **Will be well-packed for posting/shipping**. [ Rosley Books for Antiquarian books, Cumberland, Literature, Rarities, Theology and History. ]. We accept PayPal. SCARCE.