Imitation of Christ [together with] George Nitsch. Golden Thoughts from the Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis. Selected by T[homas] M[artin] Lindsay [together with] Golden Thoughts on a Holy Life. Bryce, David & Son. Glasgow. [1883].

127, [1] printed pages [together with] 128 pages. Printed by Robert Maclehose, 153 West Nile Street, Glasgow. Every page has a red border. Golden Thoughts Series 2 [together with] Golden Thoughts Series 5. Page edges untrimmed. Contemporary plain endpapers.  Contemporary pencil inscription on front free endpaper dated 1889. Provenance: Alex F. Steven. 65 x 100 mm. Contemporary red cloth backed, marbled paper covered boards. Black leather spine label with gilt blocked titling. Slightly rubbed at edges. Minuscule spot on upper hinge. Cloth a little faded.  Garbett, 51. Welsh, 3713. OCLC, 774643438. WorldCat locates one copy worldwide (British Library) [together with] OCLC,  47264337. WorldCat locates four copies worldwide (British Library, Cambridge, Oxford, Dartmouth, and Indiana Univerity Libraries). The content and original purpose of this miniature book reflects the era's focus on intimate, portable, and personal spirituality, often curated to highlight practical piety rather than complex theology - a trend of having to hand comforting and inspiring spiritual aphorisms from various sources. What is really interesting about this example of the  Golden Thoughts series by Bryce, David & Son. Glasgow, published as early as 1883, is that it makes it one of the earliest ever miniature publications by this publisher. The first five or ten mass produced titles in this series are not known to have been preceded by any other titles, although very many other celebrated series and individual miniature books followed from Bryce in the ensuing thirty years of intense miniature book publishing output. To recap, this volume is possibly the earliest of miniature Bryce publications, containing both the second and the fifth in a Series that later extended to in excess of one hundred various titles. This edition was printed by Maclehose, preceding the slightly later collaboration with Heny Frowde and with it the introduction of thinnest 'India' paper' - I believe the 1895 Bryce New Testament may have been the first to feature that thinnest Frowde supplied paper. Arguably Golden Thoughts from the Psalms is earlier, being number one in the series. But the chances are that the first five or so volumes were all published and released at the same time to maximise commercial impact and ensure stong initial orders from retailers.