The Gnostics and Their Remains, Ancient and Medieval

2nd edition,  There is an inscription on the reverse of the front free endpaper which reads, ‘R Browning Esq, with the publisher’s compliments’.  The hand would appear consistent with the 1887 publication date but no provence to substantiate authencity of inscription.  xxiv, 466pp, plus 15 plate illustrations at rear, occasional symbols, decorations and figures in text.  Brown cloth-covered boards with gilt motif on upper panel and gilt lettering on the spine.  Brown endpapers.  8vo.  Cloth a little rounded on corners, scuffed and fraying at spine ends and long rear joint, a few mild marks.  Text block edges dust darkened and a little toned.  A few marked on endpaper, rear hinge cracked and chipped.  Some light foxing on first and last few pages.  Minor annotations on title page; occasional marginal annotations and some underlining throughout.  

This is the second edition of King’s classic work on Gnosticism and the history of Gnostics.  (The first edition was published in 1864 by Bell and Daldy).  An important work for the understanding of the Gnostic tradition and its links with later movements such as the Templars, Freemasonry and the Rosicrucians, it is not an introductory work.  Scarce.

Loosely laid in is a small clipping another plate illustration which may be from the first edition (see see photographs).  All plates present and complete as called for in this edition.