FIRST PRINTING OF THE BOOK OF MORMON.


SMITH, JOSEPH. 1805-1844. The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi. Palmyra: Printed by E.B. Grandin for the Author. 8vo (185 x 114 mm). [iv] [5]-588 [2]; preface by Joseph Smith and final leaf of testimonies; lacking final blank. Original sheep, spine ruled in blind, original black morocco title label, stamped in gilt. Rubbing to covers, with minor chipping at spine ends and ends of joints, rear flypaper excised, foxing, some worming, small hole (4 mm) to preface leaf, minor creasing to some leaves.FIRST EDITION, complete, with the Joseph Smith Preface, and the leaf of testimonies from witnesses who saw the original golden tablets of Nephi, and without the index leaf which is found only in later issues. Published just two weeks before the formal founding of the Church of Latter-Day Saints on April 6, 1830, the first edition is the only to list Joseph Smith as the author (rather than translator). Smith dictated the text to Oliver Cowdery, whose manuscript was "delivered a few pages at a time to the typesetter, who supplied all the punctuation and paragraphing" (Crawley and Flake 1). Grolier American 37; Howes S-623; Sabin 83038; Streeter Sale IV:2262.