Sale 2486 Lot 324

THIRD EDITION (MORMONS.) The Book of Mormon. [5], 8-571, [2] pages. 12mo, contemporary calf with 4 single gilt bands on backstrip and faded gilt-stamped spine title "Book of Mormon", substantial loss of leather on front board, otherwise moderate wear; hinges split, foxing and moderate wear to some leaves including title, intermittent dampstaining, lacking 5 internal leaves (pages 159-166 and 323-324). Nauvoo, IL: Ebenezer Robinson and Don Carlos Smith, 1840

Estimate $8,000 - 12,000

Third edition, first state (unbroken text on page 9, without the index leaves issued in 1841). It was the first stereotyped edition, and the last one which Joseph Smith had the opportunity to personally revise. Only about 2,000 copies were prepared in the first state, and about the same of the later states, making it a smaller print run than the 1830 first edition, and thus scarcer at auction. The binding on the present example is different than the 4 double bands and affixed spine label described in Crawley, but appears to be original, as do the blue endpapers. Crawley 83; Flake 597; Howes S623 ("aa"); Sabin 83040; Streeter sale IV:2263.