Letters from the Patriarchs of Constantinople, Alexandria and Antioch, and from the Metropolitan of Athens by [Orthodox Church] - n.d. [c. 1880]

[New York]: [Likely The Historical Club of the American Protestant Episcopal Church], n.d. [c. 1880]. First edition. Pamphlet. Very Good. 6 x 9 3/8 inches. 16 unnumbered page photo-lithograph facsimile reproduction of letters from Patriarchs of the Eastern Church regarding unity with the American Episcopal Church [see Journal of General Convention (1874) pp. 329-331 for translations and official discussion]. Dampstained. Bound with original string and blue paper wrap. From the library of Samuel Hart. From the library of Samuel Hart, which experienced a fire that damaged a number of books. As a result, items from Hart's library are extremely rare. Samuel Hart (1845-1917) was dean of the Berkeley Divinity School, the (un)official "middle way" seminary of the Episcopal Church at Middletown, Connecticut. In 1886, he became the third custodian of the Standard Book of Common Prayer. In 1892, he became secretary of the House of Bishops. In 1898, he became the fourth historiographer of the Episcopal Church. He served in all three of these offices until his death. (In 1893, he was elected Bishop of Vermont, but he declined the office.) A unique association copy.