The Book of Mormon - photo 1
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The Book of Mormon

Lot 188
28.01.2025 10:00UTC -05:00
Classic
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CHRISTIE'S
AuctioneerCHRISTIE'S
Event locationUSA, New York
ID 1360905
Lot 188 | The Book of Mormon
Estimate value
$ 15 000 – 25 000
SMITH, Joseph (1805-1844). The Book of Mormon: An Account Written by the Hand of Mormon, Upon Plates Taken from the Plates of Nephi... by Joseph Smith, Junior, Author and Proprietor. Palmyra: Printed by E.B. Grandin, for the Author, 1830.

First edition of the Book of Mormon, with provenance dating back to publication. The Book of Mormon is Joseph Smith's translation of the golden tablets revealed to him by the angel Moroni on the hill of Cumorah near Manchester, New York. Printed only two weeks prior to the formal establishment of the Mormon Church, this is the only edition where Joseph Smith is identified as the "author" rather than as the "translator," as it appears in subsequent editions. This copy complete with the "Testimony of the Three Witnesses” signed in type by Oliver Cowdery, David Whitmer, Martin Harris on who attest that they had “seen the plates that which contain this record. On the verso of the same leaf appears “And Also The Testimony of the Eight Witnesses” bearing the names of Christian Whitmer, Jacob Whitmer, Peter Whitmer, Jr., John Whitmer, Hiram Page, Joseph Smith, Sen., Hyrum Smith, and Samuel H. Smith, all of whom attest that Joseph Smith had “shewn unto us the plates….” Smith dictated the text to Oliver Cowdery, who served as scribe. A local printer, Egbert B. Grandin, proprietor of the Wayne Sentinel, undertook to print the sizeable edition (5,000 copies) for the 25-year old Smith. The manuscript "was delivered a few pages at a time to the typesetter, who supplied all the punctuation and paragraphing" (Crawley and Flake). The Church catalogue notes that this first printing of the Mormon Bible forbade freemasonry and polygamy, but the latter doctrine was altered in subsequent editions. Best of the West 56; Church 1342; Crawley 1; Flake 595; Grolier Hundred 37; Howes S-623 ("b"); Sabin 83038; Streeter sale 2262.

Octavo (184 x 110mm). 588 pp., plus Testimony leaf at rear. (Front endpaper detached; ink stain to lower third of page resulting in loss of text on pp.153-160 and 271-72; small loss to corner on p. 225 affecting two lines.) Contemporary calf, spine label (rebacked, rubbed and worn, rear board starting). Wooden box. Provenance: Jasper Johnson, Geneseo (ownership inscription dated 1830) - William P Wood (ownership inscription) - John Herrick, Denver (ownership inscription dated 1912) - President Jno. M Knight, Denver (ownership inscription dated 1920; by descent to:) – Richard Knight (1947; by descent to:) – Florence Colleen Knight Bowen (1987; by descent to:) – Kristen Colleen Bowen (2020; current owner).
Genre:Religious genre
Place of origin:USA
Address of auction CHRISTIE'S
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14.01.2025 – 28.01.2025
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