8vo - 22 x 13.5 cm.; [2] - (2) - 302 pp. Blind stamped brown cloth on front and back boards with gilt lettering on the spine. No publisher is given or stated on title page or copyright page and no pages have been removed. The point of this particular edition was: ". . . (to present the reader) . . . . with a beautiful book in a convenient form, well-adapted for the centre-table in the parlour - where it may often be taken up by the worldly-minded . . . " This is from the Publisher's Preface (1853) and signed by C. Grate who was the publisher of the Emmitsburg Star (Pennsylvania) at the time. The copyright is dated 1858. One could call it an early large print edition. 31 lives are presented as taken from the larger and complete Butler's Lives. Previous owner's name stamped on the ffep and the title page along with a more recent gift inscription referenced to Catherine Doherty on the ffep as well. The end paper hinges are torn (short tears though) exposing the cloth. The external joints are worn through as is the cloth on the fore and tail edges of the boards. There is some pen marginalia in the form of check marks in the margins of the Life of St. Antony. Binding is still sturdy and with the exception noted, the text is clean. An unusual edition.

Butler's Lives Of The Saints Hagiography, Biography, Egypt, Catholic, C. Grate, Saint Isidore, Saint Antony, Saint Sisoes, Saint Thais, Saint Phocas, Saint Arcadius, Saint Arsenius, Saint Julien, St. Palaenus