Thomas Becon's A New Postil, printed by Thomas Marshe and John Kingston
Thomas Becon's work, A New Postil, was printed by Thomas Marshe and John Kingston in London in 1566. The work consists of a collection of sermons written by the English Protestant reformer for each Sunday of an entire year.
Marshe's shop was located across from St. Dunstan's Church on Fleet Street, by Temple Gate, while Kingston was located in St. Paul's Churchyard by the west door.
This is one of the few books Marshe printed that was religious in nature, as nearly every one of the approximately 90 books he printed during his career were secular. Kingston, conversely, printed a considerable number of Sarum service books from 1553 to 1557 while in partnership with Henry Sutton.
Perhaps this indicates that Kingston was the driving force in publishing Becon's sermons. Kingston was not a member of the Stationers' Company whereas Marshe was one of the original members. Kingston mainly printed books for others and a partnership with Marshe may have allowed him to print the work.
Along with the sermons for each Sunday of the year, the volume begins with two prayers to be said before the sermon and a concluding remark for after the sermon. The section for each Sunday begins with the section of scripture the sermon will discuss followed by the 'exposition' or the sermon.
He was considered a remarkable preacher by his contemporaries. The numerous publications he penned established him as one of the most widely-read Protestant writers in England during the Reformation.
His tract, The Sycke Mans Salue, became the preeminent Protestant work of the period between 1550 to 1630. Becon asserted that he composed his works for the sake of the common people, who were clearly receptive to what he published as his works shaped and defined a distinctive character of Protestant English piety.
The end of the title explains the intention behind its publishing:
"Lately set foorth unto the great profite not onely of al Curates,and spiritually Ministers, but also of all other godly and faythfull Readers."
The book was published a year before Becon's death and appears to be written with the intention of providing sermons and prayers for the use of ministers who were unable to compose their own and for the personal instruction of readers.
On the title page, there is a fragment of a mark of ownership. As books passed through different hands through the years new owners would often cover up or remove any marks left by a previous owner. It appears the surname has been covered but it is difficult to make out what was scratched out.
George Gregory's (1852-1930) bookbinder ticket is affixed to the inside of the front cover. He was from Bath and was the president of the International Association of Antiquarian Booksellers through the First World War. He was a bookbinder by trade but his business expanded to include bookselling and in an ad from 1894 proclaimed to be an "English, Foreign, Colonial and General Book Merchant, Library Buyer and Exporter” (aba.org.uk)