Ten littleknown facts about the book of mormon meridian. The rare book and special collections division has an important collection of early printed books relating to the history of the latterday saints, beginning with two copies of the first edition of the book of mormon by joseph smith, printed in palmyra, new york in 1830. First edition book of mormon history moons rare books. Dinger decided that his variant readings would be based solely upon the manuscripts or the fifteen lds printed editions he selected for use. It is the most complete copy of the original manuscript, deseret news reports.
Dingers critical text is a variorum edition based on a particular version of the first, 1830, edition of the book of mormon which i will describe below. The earlier loss of 116 pages of the book of mormon manuscript together with rising antagonism in the palmyra area persuaded. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of nephi. Aug 14, 2010 a critical text of the book of mormon was published in 19841987 by the foundation for ancient research and mormon studies. To that date, the book of mormon had been fully translated into 82 languages and partially translated in 25 more.
The book was written by many ancient prophets by the spirit of prophecy and revelation. The title page has been printed, with slight modifications, as the opening page of every full edition of the book of mormon since it first came off the press in march, 1830. A printing history of the book of mormon 105 the first edition the first published text from the book of mormon was the title page, which was printed inthe wayne sentinelof 26 june 1829, an item probably obtained from the application. The first printed edition compared to the manuscripts. The second annual book of mormon symposium at byu in a variety of themes and approaches, the symposium papers reproduced in this volume explore the first book in the book of mormon first nephi. These books are now individually known as the first edition book of mormon, and only around 500 are estimated to exist today. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of. On march 26, 1830, an announcement in the wayne sentinel, a local palmyra.
A printing history of the book of mormon ensign peak foundation. How one utah rare book collector acquired a first edition. Original black cloth with spine lettering originally stamped in gilt now completely dulled. Beautiful working replica of the original eb grandin acorn printing press that was used to print the first book of mormon. The book of mormon is a volume of holy scripture comparable to the bible. Marsh carried the books message back to his home in boston. On page 171 of the first edition of the book of mormon we find the following. First prophet and president of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints.
Today, the building the houses the bookstoreturnedreligiouslandmark is known as the book of mormon historic publication site. Dingers significant textual changes in the book of mormon. The book is a curiosity to me, it is such a pretentious affair, and yet so slow, so sleepy. Where in cincinnati was the third edition of the book of. Over the past twentyone years, editor royal skousen has pored over joseph smiths original manuscripts and identified more than 2,000 textual errors in the 1830 edition. While it is the first page that readers generally encounter in the book of mormon, it was not the first page translated by joseph smith. Smith reportedly placed the original dictation of the book of mormon in the cornerstone of a house in nauvoo, illinois, in 1841. Publication history of the book of mormon church news. Should we suspect anything is unusual just by knowing that it took only seven months. Better understand the expansive growth of printing in early nineteenthcentury america.
Over the next 150 years, more than 39 million copies were printed. On july 11, 20, i was surprised to get an email from a community of christ colleague informing me that the smithpettit foundation was publishing john s. To print the book, grandin used a smith improved printing press, which had first appeared on the market about 1821 and was the most uptodate press available to the small printer of the day. Joseph declared the work was excellent, and printing of the book began. First published in 1830, the book of mormon is the authoritative scripture of the church of jesus christ of latterday saints and its estimated million members. Typo graphical facsimile of the entire text in two parts provo, utah. The first edition, printed in 1830, is most precious to latterday saints because joseph smith, the faiths founder, personally oversaw its. Notice appearing friday, march 26, 1830 in the wayne sentinel in palmyra, new york. What may interest you is that there are twenty distinct editions of the book of mormon beginning with the first printing in 1830, and culminating with the current edition, first set and printed in 1981. The ten most expensive mormon books meridian magazine. The first edition was printed in palmyra, new york in 1830.
Wood, joseph smith begins his work book of mormon 1830 first edition reproduced from uncut sheets salt lake city. Book of mormon editions 18301981 the encyclopedia of. Ddbs00058 large print blue hard cover wmany central american photos. The value of the book of mormon, historical background of the plates, and the title page are all. See more ideas about book of mormon, mormon, the book of mormon. Book of mormon by joseph smith, first edition abebooks. The first printed edition compared to the manuscripts and to the subsequent major lds english printed editions and that there was to be a book signing on july 18, 20, at. The first step was to secure the by depositing the title page with the clerk of the northern district court of new york, which he did on june 11, 1829, before the translation was complete. Excerpts from first edition of book of mormon 1830 title page and other front matter. The incredible story of the first printing of the book of. Here between three and five thousand 5 copies of the second edition of the book of mormon were printed in the winter of 18361837. Title page of the first edition of the book of mormon 1830 excerpt from the original book of mormon manuscript, ca. Sep 10, 20 joseph declared the work was excellent, and printing of the book began. Mar 01, 2012 what may interest you is that there are twenty distinct editions of the book of mormon beginning with the first printing in 1830, and culminating with the current edition, first set and printed in 1981.
Verses werent put in until later, brother watkins said, describing the printed page. The second edition was printed seven years later in kirtland, ohio 18. More important lds works will be digitized to add to this online collection. Rather than go into full detail, ill list each of the editions, then mention the ones that may be pertinent to your copy. Title page of the book of mormon submitted to the library of congress for registration.
Oliver cowdery, martin harris, samuel smith, and others made short preaching tours promoting the book. Sep 25, 2017 the printers manuscript was handwritten by a follower and was used to create the first printed edition of the book of mormon in 1830. These rare unauthorized sections from the book of mormon, printed on the same press as the first edition which was published months later, are extremely scarce. This is the first edition of the book of mormon which includes the cross references, study helps and double column printing. Mar 07, 2019 by 2019, i purchased over 100 copies of the first edition book of mormon, 25 copies of the first doctrine and covenants, seven copies of the first mormon hymn book, and four copies of the book of commandments. The original press used by grandin to print the book of mormon, is currently located in the church history museum in salt lake city, utah. Moons rare books first edition book of mormon for sale.
All men have heard of the mormon bible, but few except the elect have seen it, or, at least, taken the trouble to read it. Grandins bookstore in palmyra, new york, usa, on march 26, 1830. Book of mormon historic publication site wikipedia. The first portions of the book of mormon available to the public were pirated. The second edition was printed seven years later in kirtland, ohio 1837. It was first published in march 1830 by joseph smith as the book of mormon. The following document, a copy of the title page of the book of mormon, is the first printed js document. Robertss typewritten manuscript of more than 400 pages, titled book of mormon difficulties was. Mormons mormonism and rare mormon books related to the lds. The men who were appointed to this errand fulfilled their.
This item appeared as joseph smith was trying to find a publisher for his volume. The book of mormon was first published and sold at the bookstore of e. Text matches the title page of the first edition of the book of mormon, palmyra. The original 1830 edition, book of mormon had s of errors. Once printed and bound, the book of mormon was made available for sale at grandins shop. He states that his base text comes from wilford woods 1958 facsimile edition, joseph smith begins his work book of mormon 183 first edition reproduced from uncut sheets. Collecting the book of mormon by joseph, smith first. The first book of mormon was published in 1830, where 5,000 copies were printed by e. Provo one year ago, reid moon acquired a first edition book of mormon signed by hyrum smith, the older brother and fellow martyr of mormon prophet joseph smith. This is the first published text of the book of mormon to show the precise history of many textual variants. In this study we will show that there have been at least 3,9 changes made in the book of mormon from the time it was first published in 1830. May 16, 2018 provo one year ago, reid moon acquired a first edition book of mormon signed by hyrum smith, the older brother and fellow martyr of mormon prophet joseph smith.
Grandin entitled them to use the press every day except sunday. The earliest text this book is a fascinating look at the less than 30% of the original manuscript that still remains of the book of mormon as it was translated and dictated by joseph smith under the guidance of the spirit to his scribes. The book of mormon and the growth of printing in america. The seven months it took to print the book of mormon is well documented. In august 1829, harris signed over the mortgage to grandin, and production of the book of mormon began. Jul 30, 2019 the 150 millionth copy of the book of mormon was printed in early 2011, after 181 years of the book s history. Lds church buys printers manuscript of book of mormon for record.
Mormons mormonism and rare mormon books related to the lds church. The following are extracts from the first edition of the book of mormon. According to smith, the book is originally written in an otherwise unknown language called reformed egyptian on golden plates and it should be of similar importance as the bible. Title page of book of mormon, circa early june 1829, page 2. The papers browse the papers documents journals administrative. The grandin printing press that was used to produce the first 5,000 copies of the book of mormon in palmyra, new york, is on display in the. It is a record of gods dealings with ancient inhabitants of the americas and contains the fulness of the everlasting gospel. The incredible story of the first printing of the book of mormon. Foundation for ancient research and mormon studies, brigham young university, 2001. Roberts, noted scholar and a general authority in the mormon church, whose secret manuscript has only fairly recently been published, and who had come to question the book of mormon quite some time before ferguson did. Collecting the book of mormon by joseph, smith first edition.
Title page of book of mormon, circa early june 1829, page 1. Book of mormon reaches 150 million copies church news and. Feb 23, 2017 the first edition of the book of mormon carries a curious aesthetic that may catch modern readers by surprise. An account written by the hand of mormon upon plates taken from the plates of. Fall 1829 to march 26, 1830 the work of printing still continued with little or no interruption. Eventually theyd build a collection professionals would envy, obtaining not only several copies of the 1830 edition but also first editions of the book of mormon in all 149 translations. The first edition of the book of mormon was published more than 185 years ago, just before the church was officially organized on the 6 th of april 1830. How the book of mormon design has changed over the last. Copyright for book of mormon, 11 june 1829, historical introduction. The church news is an official publication of the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon. Mormon books digitized materials rare book and special.
Book of mormon printing history showcased in storied provo. Concerning the 1830 edition, see, richard lloyd anderson, gold plates and printers. The value of the book of mormon, historical background of the plates, and the title page are all discussed. Grandins print shop to print the book was signed on tue 25 aug 1829, and the completed book was on sale by fri 26 march 1830. Introductory pages of the book of mormon book of mormon central. Aug 21, 2020 the book of mormon is a sacred text that was published in march 1830 by joseph smith, jr.
Private collector of rare mormon books, the 1830 first edition book of mormon, mormon art and artifacts, historic mormon paintings, autographed historical documents, early mormon historical photographs, mormon imprints from palmyra, zion, kirtland, and nauvoo, and anything related to the church of jesus christ of latter day saints. The first copies of the book of mormon appeared on the shelves of e. Go behind the printing of the first edition of the book of mormon. Even before the first finished copies of the book of mormon became available on march 26, 1830, solomon chamberlain preached from loose pages in canada and thomas b. The book of mormon was first printed and sold in the grandin building located in downtown palmyra, new york. Grandin, 1830, but is a different setting of type and lacks imprint statement.
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