PENN, William (1644-1718). A Reply to a Pretended Answer by a Nameless Author to W.P.'s Key : in which the Principles of the People of God called Quakers are further Explain'd and Confirm'd. London: Thomas Northcott, 1695.

First and only edition of a rare Quaker publication; in a handsome contemporary binding. In this work Penn defends himself against accusations of “being a Jesuit, of perverting Quakerism, and, again with no precise citation, of being a 'Lewd author'" (Bronner & Fraser). We are unable to trace any other copy at auction since 1911. In this work, Penn “quoted or paraphrased what his opponent had written and provided an answer to each attack […] He flatly denied the accusation that Quakers teach that the whole of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, inhabit each human being, asserting that only a small portion of an infinite Spirit is available to an individual if he or she will respond to it." Sabin 59729.

Octavo (165 x 93mm). (Some spotting.) Contemporary burgundy full morocco, double fillet gilt borders enclosing tooled and dotted gilt panels with stars and floral ornamentation, spine similarly gilt in compartments and initialed "IK," black morocco spine label lettered in gilt, all edges gilt (faint wear, corners lightly bumped). Provenance: Daniel Water (owner inscription scored through on endpaper) – B. Bell (ownership inscription scored through on endpaper) – two further early ownership inscriptions scored through – William Bell Crafton, prolific Quaker abolitionist writer, fl. late-18th century (inscriptions on title and endpaper) – Bonhams, 12 February 2002, lot 50.