8vo (210x135 mm), (4)-vii-564 pages. binding : Contemporary quarter sheep, flat spine. Binding slightly rubbed. Paper with foxings.
First edition. Ernest Renan (1823-1892), historian in most of the work has been devoted to the history of religions, his major work remains his History of the origins of Christianity published in 7 independent volumes from 1863 to 1883. This volume (the sixth in the series) looks at the beginnings of the construction of the Christian church and covers the period 117-161 AD. As always with Renan, this work is a monument of erudition and remains a reference on the history of early Christianity.