KING, Robert. A Primer of the History of the Holy Catholic Church in Ireland, from the Introduction of Christianity to the Formation of the Modern Irish Branch of the Church of Rome.

Third edition. Two volumes in one. Dublin: William Curry, Jun. and Company, Grant and Bolton, and J. Robertson; Evans, Cork, 1845/46. Thick demy octavo. Third edition. pp. xxxi, [3], 372, 373-929. With engraved title vignettes, decorative title borders printed in red, and wood-engraved illustrations including a view of Armagh. Contemporary half green morocco over marbled boards, spine gilt in compartments with gilt roll-tooling. Marbled endpapers. Bookplate of John Ribton Garstin (1836-1917), antiquary, of Braganstown, Castlebellingham, Co. Louth, with his armorial crest and motto Gladio et Virtute. A very good copy.
Robert King (1815-1900), a clergyman and later Canon of Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny, published this controversial ecclesiastical history while still a young scholar of Trinity College Dublin. It represents an attempt to present Irish Church history from a distinctly Anglican perspective, in contrast with the flourishing Catholic scholarship of the nineteenth century. This third edition is revised and expanded from the earlier issues of 1840 and 1843, and is notable for its attractive printing style with red-ruled borders and illustrated title.
Provenance: John Ribton Garstin, M.A., D.Litt., F.S.A. (1836-1917), a noted antiquary, Freemason, and member of the Royal Irish Academy, whose fine heraldic bookplate is affixed to the front pastedown. He was Vice-President of the RIA and a distinguished contributor to the Journal of the Association for the Preservation of the Memorials of the Dead. His large library was well known in antiquarian circles.

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