(MORMONS) A Collection of Sacred Hymns for the Church of Jes

Sale 2404 - Lot 189

Price Realized: $ 22,500

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Estimate: $ 10,000 - $ 15,000

(MORMONS.) A Collection of Sacred Hymns, for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, in Europe. 336 pages. 16mo, publisher's brown striated sheep with "L.D. Saints Hymns" gilt-stamped on backstrip, minor wear, joints tastefully repaired; title page and final leaf in facsimile by Scrub Oak Bindery, minor dampstaining to upper corner, archival repairs to upper corner of 6 leaves not affecting text, minor foxing. Manchester, England: W.B. Thomas, 1840

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first edition of the "Manchester Hymnal" edited by Brigham Young. Although published in England, this collection was the basis for all LDS hymn books published in both England and Salt Lake City through 1912. It replaced Emma Smith's 1835 Kirtland hymnal as the official church hymnal (though one more edition of the Emma Smith hymnal would be issued in 1841 to meet local demand). The hymns were selected by Brigham Young, Parley Pratt, and John Taylor while on mission in England. Their preface states that "the Saints in this Country have been very desirous for a Hymn Book adapted to their faith and worship, that they might sing the truth with an understanding heart, and express their praise, joy, and gratitude, in songs adapted to the new and everlasting covenant."
This small volume contains 271 numbered hymns, using 78 hymns from the 1835 edition as a foundation, adding 38 new works by Parley Pratt, and incorporating some others from the Protestant tradition by Charles Wesley and Isaac Watts. With co-editor Taylor ill and Pratt preoccupied with the Millennial Star, Brigham Young did the bulk of the final editing, writing to his wife that "it has made my labor so hard that it seemes as though it would be imposable for me ever to regane my helth." 3000 copies were printed in July 1840; seven more editions followed in rapid succession before the decade was out. Crawley 78; Flake 1762. None traced at auction.