Reverend J. Fleetwood – The Life of Christ (c 1860)

Description

Title: Fleetwood’s Life of Christ……

Publisher: Henry Cooke, Melbourne, Victoria

Publication Date: c 1860 (Undated)

Size:  320 x 260 x 63mm

Weight:  3.96kg – This is a large and heavy tome.

Exceptionally rare, over 170-year-old, as this illustrated edition (with multiple magnificently colour hand drawn/painted illustrations of Christ during important times of his life) is the only publication of Fleetwood’s Life of Christ published by the Melbourne’s very own Henry Cooke (see below for more details of Henry Cooke life) left in existence, which we are aware of.  Whether you are religious or not, this book is a joy to behold and will bring much enjoyment to all who read it.  This book exudes ambiance.

This rare 19th-century example of John Fleetwood’s famous book on the life of Jesus.  This book uses biblical passages as a basis for this ‘biography’ of the life of Jesus Christ.  Fleetwood covers the birth of Jesus, the angelic visitation to Mary, decree of taxation and the massacre of infants, Jesus’s baptism, first miracles, temptation in the desert, calling of disciples, Jesus curing leprosy and palsy, and the trial, crucifixion, and resurrection.

Other important topics include:

• Establishment and differences in sects of the Jews
• Demolition of Temple of Jerusalem
• Leprosy found in Samaria
• Details of the Jewish Council, Sanhedrin
• Short biographies / lives of the Apostles of Jesus

It features an indented, raised and decorated black Morocco leather over with gilded corners and clasp (one claps is missing) five raised bands to spine with gilt title and decorations, gilt and blind stamped decorations to covers.  Hardcover. Condition: Fair. Large hardback book dated approx 1860.  In fair condition. Full leather.  Gilt and embossed spine with raised bands. Fleetwood’s Life of Christ in gilt. Covers very good with all gilt still intact.  Some age-related scuffs on spine.  Endpapers and interior pages have age-related spotting. All pages intact.  Text pages/illustrations generally free from significant defects save for age-related spotting.  Tissue paper divider page at front of book and page 24 torn as is illustration opposite page 100.  None of the 928 pages are missing.  Large print. Large volume, 26 x 32 x 6cm.  For a book of over 160 years old, this book is in remarkable condition.

John Fleetwood; was “one of the greatest Hebraists (A Hebraist is a specialist in Jewish, Hebrew and Hebraic studies. Specifically, British and German scholars of the 18th and 19th centuries who were involved in the study of Hebrew language and literature were commonly known by this designation, at a time when Hebrew was little understood outside practicing Jewish communities) of his time and…a contributor to the London Polyglot (A polyglot is a book which contains side-by-side versions of the same text in several different languages. Some editions of the Bible or its parts are polyglots, in which the Hebrew and Greek originals are exhibited along with historical translations).

Henry Cooke was born 10 Mar 1818 in Egglestone Abbey, Yorkshire, England and baptised in Startforth Church on 27 March.  His mother Hannah Cooke nee Wilkinson died after giving birth to Henry.  Henry and his [half] brothers John and Francis emigrated to Victoria, Australia sometime after 1841.

Henry and his brother John were original members of the congregation of Independent Church, Collins St. Melbourne. Henry was a fervent Methodist and founder of many Christian institutions in Melbourne.  He and John were pastoral landowners of Brenanah, Richmond Plains and Spring Hill and in the Wedderburn district near Bendigo, Victoria between July 1845 and September 1849.

They were merchants and the founders of “The Age” newspaper in Melbourne, in 1854, under the name Francis Cooke and Co. They relinquished ownership after a few months.  Henry was at a public meeting held at Mechanics Institute to discuss the future of “The Age” newspaper on 19 December 1854 in Melbourne. [2006] The newspaper recently celebrated its 150th anniversary.

Henry was a merchant in Sydney circa 1851 and built wooden houses in A!bert St. Victoria Parade and Grey St, Melbourne, imported from New Zealand.  Henry named several of his properties “Egglestone” and one of them was called “Howe Villa”

Henry married AMELIA ANNIE JOB HAM 05 Aug 1851 in Baptist Chapel, Bathurst St, Sydney, New South Wales, daughter of REV HAM [he was the Church Pastor] and ANN TONKIN. She was born Abt. 1831.

John went back to England sometime around 1871 and returned to Howe Villa Mill Lane, Richmond, Yorkshire, ENGLAND, [later died in 1896 Richmond, Yorkshire, England], but his brothers, James & [half] brother Henry settled and had families in Australia and New Zealand

Henry died on 18 March 1889 at “Egglestone” Dandenong Rd, Oakleigh, Melbourne, at age 71, and was buried on 20 March 1889 at Melbourne General Cemetery.

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