Eighty-eight issues of the fortnightly magazine 'The Messenger of Wisdom and Israel's Guide.', with two volumes of its continuation, 'The Pioneer of Wisdom. A Newspaper Devoted to the Ingathering and Restoration of Israel.'

Author: 
'Edited by Jezreel' [The New and Latter House of Israel, New Brompton, Kent, England; James Jershom Jezreel [James Roland White] (c.1851-1885); Jezreel's Tower, Gillingham, Kent; the Jezreelites]
Publication details: 
Printed and published by The New and Latter House of Israel, New Brompton, Kent. Dating from 1887-1933, and comprising: Vol.1, 7 issues,1887-1889; Vol.2, 78 issues, 1890-1892; Vol.3, 3 issues, all 1893; Vol.18, 1 issue, 1914; Vol.27, 1 issue, 1933.
£1,250.00
SKU: 11829

An excessively scarce run of issues of the organ of the Jezreelite sect, founded by James Jershom Jezreel (real name James Roland White), under the inspiration of Joanna Southcott and John Wroe, and most famous for the unfinished construction of 'Jezreel's Tower' in Gillingham, Kent. For more information see P. J. Rogers, 'The Sixth Trumpeter' (OUP, 1963). The ninety issues in this incomplete run contain a variety of articles and poems in the same declamatory and horatory style. Of interest are the advertisements carried on some of the wraps, for local businesses run by members of the sect ('ONCE USED. ALWAYS USED | JEZREEL'S MAGIC POLISH! | An Excellent Furniture Cream which will be welcomed by all cleanly housekeepers.') All 90 issues in 4to, with the 78 issues of Vol. II bound into one volume, and the other 12 issues loose. Vol. II is in its original worn and damaged red cloth binding, gilt, lacking spine; with bloom to the inner margins of most leaves, but with text complete and legible. The seven loose issues from Vol. I are all in their original red wraps, with the earliest and latest issues (Nos. 12 and 36) with gold printing on the red wraps, and the other five (Nos. 14, 19, 23, 25 and 26) with black on red. Several reproductions of the same engraving of Jezreel's Tower are to be found among these seven issues. The three issues from Vol. 3 (1, 6 and 38), and the single issues from Vol.18 (421) and Vol.27 (656), these last two from the renamed 'Pioneer of Wisdom', all lack their wraps, except for one back wrap on pink paper. From Vol.2, No.6, 26 March 1890, the issues are said to be 'Edited by JEZREEL', and this is the case from then on until the last two volumes, which do not contain the statement.