Cataloging the Homestead’s Oldest Books
14 Books that are more than 200 years old!
Recently, the Mather Bible, newly-restored, returned to the Homestead. The Bible dates back to 1793, but it is actually 109 years younger than the oldest book in the Homestead archives. Indeed, there are three books published before the Homestead was built in 1778. Below is a chronological listing of the books more than 200 years old.
1684: Poems and Translations with The Sophy London Printed by J.M. for H. Herringman Inscribed: Lorenzo Neely Yale Col, May 30, 1829
1721: Poems on Several Occasions Matthew Prior. London Printed for J. Tunson and J. Barber
1731: The Universal Etymological English Dictionary Inscribed as belonging to Richard Floy.
1785: The Poetical Works of Samuel Johnson L.L.D. London Printed for W. Osborne and T. Griffin
1789: Book of Common Prayer: The Pious Country Parishioner, presented to Michael Floy. Printed for J.G. & C. Rivington, B. Law, R. Baldwin, and G. and T. Wilkie. 21st edition
1790: Davidson’s Virgil. Works of Virgil Vol. 1 London, Printed by Assignment from Joseph Davidson
1791 The Miscellaneous Works of Oliver Goldsmith in Two Volumes.
Vol. I Essays and Poems Edinburgh Printed for R. Morison & Sons Inscribed Michael Floy Jr. August 29, 1834
Vol. II. Plays and Biography Edinburgh Printed for R. Morison & Sons Inscribed Michael Floy Jr. September 3, 1834
1793 The Mather Bible The Holy Bible containing The Old and New Testaments. Mark and Charles Keer, His Majesty’s Printers Edinburgh.
1802: Maxims and Moral Reflections by The Duke de LaRochefoucauld. London Printed by C. Whittingham. Inscribed: "Michael Floy Jr. Gave this book to his brother James Feb. 1829."
1804: The Sutcliffe Bible. The Holy Bible Containing the Old And New Testament. Stereotyped and Printed by J. Smith, Cambridge. [Contains records of births and deaths of Sutcliffes.]
1813: A Catalogue of the Native and Naturalized Plants of North America by Henry Muhlenberg D.D. Inscription reads “Michael Floy’s Book presented to him by Dr. Muhlenburg 1814”
1813: A Systematic View of Divinity or the Ruin and Recovery of Man. Moses Mather D.D. Published by Nathan Weed Stamford Con. A. Spooner, Printer, Brooklyn
1814: The Natural History of Birds, from the works of the best authors, ancient & modern, embellished with numerous plates accurately coloured from nature. Printed and published by Brightly & Childs, Bungay, England. Two volumes
