1897 — Children’s Hymn Book for Use in the Sunday Schools of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints / Second Edition

Children’s Hymn Book for Use in the Sunday Schools of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Salt Lake City, 1897) is an important early Latter-day Saint hymnbook compiled for the religious instruction of children. Published by the Deseret Sunday School Union, this pocket-sized volume contains hymns selected to teach gospel principles such as faith, prayer, obedience, missionary service, and devotion to the Restoration. Issued during a formative period in the Church’s educational history, it helped standardize Sunday School music throughout the Latter-day Saint community and served as a predecessor to later LDS children’s song collections. Original nineteenth-century copies are increasingly difficult to find, making this an attractive addition for collectors of Mormon history, early LDS music, and rare Utah imprints.

Condition: Bound in the original soft cloth covers, now quite worn, with significant tearing along the spine. The text block has separated from the covers but remains largely intact. The page edges show considerable wear, with occasional light chipping. One leaf near the back has a small piece missing, resulting in the loss of a small amount of text. Despite these defects, the text block is generally clean and sound, with only minimal markings. Copies of this early Latter-day Saint Sunday School hymnbook are uncommon in the antiquarian market and are seldom encountered in any condition, making this an affordable opportunity to acquire an original nineteenth-century example for a collection of Mormon history or early LDS hymnals.