SYNOPSIS OF THE CRITCS AND OTHER INTERPRETERS OF SACRED SCRIPTURE – CRITICORUM ALIORUMQUE SACRAE SCRIPTURAE; INTERPRETUM ET COMMENTATORUM, SUMMO STUDIO ET FIDE ADORNATA
Book Details + Condition: Flesher & Roycroft (London). 1669-1676, First Editions. Five volumes, all folios. Hardcovers with marbled text blocks and endpapers. Written in the original Latin. A total of 10,156 pages across all five volumes. Each measures 16" x 10.75". Total weight of all volumes: 52 pounds. In this work, Poole is the first to compile the most comprehensive collection of Bible critics and commentators at the time. Curiously, Poole did not include reviews on John Calvin or Martin Luther - perhaps not looking to be critical of their views. It took Poole seven years to complete. All volumes have been rebound (with a 1945 bindery stamp present in rear of Vol I), and are in overall very good condition, with normal age toning to pages and occasional foxing. Vol I: faded library stamps on reverse of title page and library slip on inside rear board. Vol 2: scuff to front board and owner's names on front endpaper (early 1800s). Vol 3: old library stamp to title page and (blank!) library slip to rear inside board. Vol 4: small notch to spine cloth and empty library slip to inside rear board. Vol 4 (there are two Vol 4s): small library stamp to title page, very old and faded damp stain to upper (middle) corner of many pages, and bookplate of Michael J. O'Farrell on front endpaper. O'Farrell (1832-1894) was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church, who served as the first Bishop of Trenton.
Matthew Poole (1624 - 1679) was a 17th-century English nonconformist known for his anti-Catholic propaganda. While his Bible commentaries and annotations were his most popular works, he also wrote an examination of the Catholic Church, defining and describing many of the problems with their doctrine. Frequently, Poole sought to demonstrate the superiority of Protestantism over Catholicism.
