American Early 19th-Century Full-Leather Set of Matthew Henry’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament (First American Edition, 1828), 6 Volumes
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A word about fakes.. even in the world of rare books, modern facsimiles and artificially aged bindings can masquerade as early printings, so caution is essential.
Here we have a weighty presence on the shelf: a six-volume American 1828 edition of Matthew Henry’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament. For generations of Protestants this was the bedside commentary, and in the young United States it helped shape devotional reading and preaching alike.
The title page tells the story: Towar & Hogan of Philadelphia, First American Edition, with scholarly apparatus by Burder, Hughes, Palmer, and a preface by the eminent Archibald Alexander of Princeton Seminary. The engraved portrait by J.B. Longacre further pins the set firmly in the 1820s.
Materially, these are classic early 19th‑century full-leather bindings: calf spines with gilt rules, marbled boards, speckled edges, and laid paper now warmly toned with foxing. The wear—cracked spines, rubbed corners, softened board edges—is entirely consistent with nearly two centuries of use.
Condition is honest “library veteran” rather than pristine collector showpiece, but that narrative of long consultation doesn’t hurt authenticity; it merely tempers value. As complete, matching sets grow scarcer, even well-used examples remain attractive.
On balance, I’d place authenticity comfortably in the mid‑90s on a 100-point scale and suggest an auction estimate of about $150 to $300 for the set. Not a fortune, but a substantial, historically resonant monument of American religious printing—more sermon fuel than safe deposit-box treasure, and all the more interesting for it.
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Item Report
American Early 19th-Century Full-Leather Set of Matthew Henry’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament (First American Edition, 1828), 6 Volumes
By:Author: Matthew Henry (original c.1706–1710 commentary); American edition edited by George Burder and Joseph Hughes; Preface by Archibald Alexander; Publisher: Towar & Hogan, Philadelphia (with John P. Haven, New York, and Robert Patterson, Pittsburgh)
Style:Early 19th-century American religious / theological printing and full-leather binding
Origin:United States (Philadelphia)
Materials:Full calf leather spines and corners, marbled paper boards, laid paper text leaves, printed in letterpress with engraved frontispiece
Age:Circa 1828 (first American edition, dated on title page)
Condition:Good (complete early set with original bindings; heavy rubbing and edge wear to leather, spine chipping, and significant foxing/toning to pages)
Value:$150–$300 for the six-volume set at auction, depending on completeness and structural soundness
Maker's Marks / Writing:Printed imprint on title page: “Published by Towar & Hogan, No. 255 Market Street, John P. Haven, New-York, and Robert Patterson, Pittsburg, 1828.” Engraver’s credit on portrait: “Engraved by J.B. Longacre.”
Date:2025-11-18 23:53:32.969572
Description:
Six-volume antique theological set, “Henry’s Exposition,” being the First American Edition (1828) of Matthew Henry’s Exposition of the Old and New Testament, published by Towar & Hogan, Philadelphia. Uniform tall octavo volumes with brown full leather spines and corners, gilt rules and titling, and marbled paper boards, some now quite worn. Titles on the spines indicate volume numbers and biblical books covered (e.g., Isaiah to Malachi). Frontispiece portrait of Matthew Henry engraved by J.B. Longacre present in at least one volume, with typical foxing. Edges speckled, textblocks showing age toning.
Curator Questions
Curated by Jade
Assessment:
A desirable but not rare early American printing of one of the most influential Protestant Bible commentaries. This appears to be a reasonably complete six-volume matched set of the 1828 Towar & Hogan First American Edition, in original period bindings. Condition is sound but well used: heavy rubbing and edge wear to spines and corners, chipping at spine ends, and foxing and toning to the text leaves. These factors limit value, but completeness and early date still appeal to collectors of theology, Americana, and religious history.
Individual Images:
none
Provenance:
Not documented in the images; presumed private collection.
Condition:
Good (complete early set with original bindings; heavy rubbing and edge wear to leather, spine chipping, and significant foxing/toning to pages)
Identification Score: 96%
The title page clearly reads “Matthew Henry… First American Edition… Published by Towar & Hogan… 1828,” and the bindings and typography match known examples; the six-volume configuration and spine titling are consistent with reference copies, leaving little doubt about identification.
Authenticity Score: 94%
Bindings, paper quality, foxing patterns, and letterpress printing all exhibit genuine early-19th-century characteristics, with no signs of modern facsimile work or re-binding in a deceptive antique style; minor later wear and natural aging support authenticity.
Image Memory Note
None
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Keywords
Matthew Henry’s Exposition, First American Edition, 1828, Towar & Hogan, Philadelphia, early 19th-century theology, religious books, full leather binding, antique Bible commentary, United States
The report was edited after initial Artmink draft. Original AI draft preserved in Artmink audit history.
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