[Religion] Histoire générale des cérémonies, moeurs et coutumes religieuses

de tous les peuples du monde (...) de Bernard Picard: avec des explications historiques, & curieuses; par M. l'Abbé Banier (...) & par M. l'Abbé le Mascrier. Vol. 1 and 4. Paris, Rollin Fils, 1741, (4),XXVIII,383,(3); (4),414 p., vol. 1 with engr. frontispiece, both vols. with engr. title vignette and 29 and 14 (i.s.o. 13) engr. plates respectively, also with engr. vignettes, uniformly bound in fine contemporary marbled calfskin with gilt-stamped "Mr. le Petit" on front casing, spine gilt and with two contrasting morocco title labels, folio.

Vol. 1 waterstained in hinge margin of the first few leaves, hinges mostly split. Vol. in exceptionally good condition. Reprint of "Ceremonies et coutumes religieuses de tous les peuples du monde" (Amsterdam, 1723-1743), with emended and sometimes drastically changed text and new engr. vignettes, but with the same plates. Vol. 1 mostly deals with Jewish religious customs (p. 49-218), with important large plates of the interior of the Portuguese synagogue in Amsterdam (dedication and Purim-celebration). The rest of vol. 1 is about the catholic faith; a large folding plate of the papal ordination procession in Rome(84 x 31 cm.) catches the eye. Vol. 4, until page 88, deals with "Le schisme d'Angleterre" and in the remainder with protestant rites; the most important plates depict the interior of a Freemason Lodge, the Adamites (nudists) in Amsterdam and (large plate) the baptism in Rijnsburg. Added: vol. 3 of the original edition, Amsterdam, J.F. Bernard, 1733, in modern leather binding (3).