Pamphlets About the Unsuccessful Movement to Repeal the Test Acts

London: Various publishers, 1770-1790. 10 in 1. Unique Contemporary Compilation of Scarce Primary Sources About the Unsuccessful 1790 Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts [Great Britain]. [Test and Corporation Acts]. [Pamphlets About the Unsuccessful Movement to Repeal of the Test and Corporation Acts]. London, 1770-1790. Ten titles in one volume, various paginations. Octavo (8" x 5"; 20.32 x 12.7 cm). Contemporary three-quarter calf over marbled boards, rebacked in period style, raised bands, gilt fillets and lettering piece to spine, endpapers renewed. Some rubbing to boards, somewhat heavier rubbing to board edges with wear to corners. Moderate toning to interior, light browning to a few pamphlets, light foxing, stains, marks and underlining in a few places, light dampstaining to top and fore-edges, neat cellotape repairs to a few leaves, first title preceded by contemporary manuscript table of contents. A unique volume, contents in very good condition. $2,500. * Intended to exclude Catholics and Protestant Dissenters from public life, the Test and Corporation Acts (1673 and 1661) required all local and state officials to belong to the Church of England. Both were, for the most part, repealed in 1828; the remaining provisions against Catholics followed in 1829. (Jews were granted these rights between 1833 and 1890.) The pamphlets in this volume concern an effort to repeal the acts that began in the mid-eighteenth century and ended in an unsuccessful campaign to pass a repeal bill in 1790. Overall, this volume is a unique contemporary compilation of primary sources, all of them scarce with few copies listed in North American libraries. One is by Anna Letitia Barbauld [1743-1825], poet, essayist, literary critic, editor, children's author and leader of the Blue Stockings Society, an important women's education movement, who was a dissenter. The spine title reads "Priestley/ Etc." and the heading of the table of contents refers to "Dr. Priestley." Joseph Priestley [1733-1804], the prominent scientist, polymath and dissenter, who played a leading role in the repeal campaign. **THIS DESCRIPTION IS TRUNCATED DUE TO CHARACTER LIMITS. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR A COMPLETE VERSION.** Contents: -Horsley, Samuel (1733-1806)]. A Review of the Case of the Protestant Dissenters; With Reference to the Corporation and Test Acts. London: Printed for J. Rob.…