Hymns

Salt Lake City: Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1956. Tenth printing. Leather. 387 numbered hymns, index 3-27. Full black flexible leather with decorative yellow marbled end sheets, a.e.g. After twenty years with the not-too-popular Latter-day Saint Hymns, a new highly touted hymnbook was released in 1948 (they had hoped to have it completed by the centennial but failed). There was a widespread campaign to make the new hymnal exciting, including a hymn contest (won by Joseph Fielding Smith, though his submission was ultimately rejected for inclusion). When it was released, the response was fairly ho-hum. Michael Hicks notes that complaints rolled in: size, binding, hymn selections and even attributions of authors.
As a result, the committee immediately began work on a revision, dropping a dozen hymns and retooling many others. In 1951, another launch took place, punctuated by a well-publicized hymn-singing festival in January (see Hymn Singing Festival, #25972, #37465). This better-loved publication would serve as the official hymnal for the next three decades in its beloved blue, brown and red versions.
While the regular hardback edition is ubiquitous even today, the leather-bound versions are quite rare. We have seen only six come through our doors in more than twenty years. Condition: Very good+. Item #37142

Price: $200.00