Oriental Customs: or an Illustrations of the Sacred Scriptures, by an Explanatory Application of the Customs and Manners of the Eastern Nations, and especially The Jews... (2 volumes, Philadelphia, 1807)

Philadelphia: William W. Woodward, 1807. Hardcover. Very Good. First US edition, 1807, 2 volumes, 8vo, full original brown calf, very good with light rubbing to binding, spine labels a little dull, sound binding, two inner hinges have been neatly strengthened with thin rice paper, contents very good, clean, sporadic foxing, age toning, flyleaf of volume 2 with old writing on it, think it says 'library.' Small chip out of outer edge of rear flyleaf. Burder takes quotations from all parts of the Bible (Old and New Testaments) and links to then modern research in the Holy Land and thereabouts. For example, the phrase, 'If the salt has lost its savour' in Matthew: 'Our Lord's supposition of the salt losing its savour is illustrated by Mr. Maundrell (Journey, p. 162) who tells us, in the Valley of Salt near Gebul, and about four hours' journey from Aleppo, there is a small precipice occasioned by the continual taking away of salt. 'In this,' says he, 'you may see how the veins of it lie. I broke a piece of it, which the part was exposed to rain, sun, and air, thought it had sparks and particles of salt, yet had perfectly lost its flavor.' So there you have it, Jesus, among his many other virtues, had discerning taste.