1882 — Recitations for the Primary Associations, in Poetry, Dialogues and Prose, Book No. 2 — Eliza R. Snow

Recitations for the Primary Associations, in Poetry, Dialogues and Prose, Book No. 2 (Salt Lake City: Deseret News Company, 1882) is an early publication of the Primary Association compiled by Eliza R. Snow, one of the most influential women in early Latter-day Saint history. Intended for children between the ages of ten and fifteen, the volume contains a rich assortment of poetry, dialogues, recitations, and prose selections designed for use in Primary meetings, public exercises, and holiday programs. Many of the literary pieces were written or compiled by Eliza R. Snow and emphasize gospel principles, moral character, patriotism, industry, kindness, and devotion to the Restoration. As one of the earliest instructional books produced for the Church’s Primary organization, it offers an important glimpse into the educational ideals and religious training of Latter-day Saint youth during the nineteenth century. Original 1882 editions are increasingly difficult to locate and are highly sought after by collectors of Mormon history, Primary publications, and early works by Eliza R. Snow.

Condition: Bound in the original cloth, now heavily worn, with especially significant wear to the spine. The binding is loose but remains intact and holding. The pages show expected age-related wear, including occasional light edge wear and minor chipping along the margins, but are generally well preserved, with most leaves remaining clean and in very good condition. Despite the wear to the binding, this is a solid, complete example of an increasingly scarce early Primary Association publication and remains a desirable collectible for students of Mormon history and nineteenth-century LDS children’s literature.