[MORMONISM]. [PRATT, Orson (1811-1881), his copy]. The Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, Volume I. Manchester: W. Shackleton & Son, 1841.

Numbers 1-12 in one volume, 8vo (208 x 131 mm). General title, preface and index bound at front. (Inscription heavily bled with offsetting and inkburn, some browning or spotting.) Contemporary half calf, marbled boards, black morocco lettering-piece gilt on upper cover (rebacked, corners restored). Provenance: Orson Pratt (1811-1881), Mormon theologian, original member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (gilt-lettered label on front cover); Orson Pratt Jr. (b.1837), (presentation inscription, see below).

FIRST EDITION, THE FIRST MORMON PERIODICAL OUTSIDE OF THE UNTED STATES, edited by Parley Pratt in its first year of publication, and continually published until 1970. "It is difficult to overestimate the value of the Millennial Star…Its pages contain a continuous record of the progress of the Church in every corner of the globe, in some instances the only such record" (Crawley). Parley Pratt was eventually replaced as editor, and was later succeeded by his brother, Orson Pratt, who served as editor from 15 August 1848 through 15 December 1850.

ORSON PRATT’S COPY, PRESENTED TO HIS SON ORSON PRATT JR.: “Presented to Orson Pratt Jr. by his Father, April 10th 1856.” Orson Pratt was ordained as a member of the original Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, called in 1835 under the direction of Joseph Smith. After Joseph Smith’s death, Pratt supported Brigham Young, and was part of the first party to arrive in Salt Lake Valley in 1847. He was called to return to Europe as a mission administrator between 1848 and 1851, during which time he served as the editor of the Millennial Star. His son, Orson Pratt, Jr., was the first born of his 45 children. He did not follow in the footsteps of his father into the hierarchy of Mormon leadership, and publicly renounced his faith in 1864. Crawley 71; Flake 4779. A SIGNIFICANT ASSOCIATION COPY.

[MORMONISM]. [PRATT, Orson (1811-1881), his copy]. The Latter-Day Saints Millennial Star, Volume I. Manchester: W. Shackleton & Son, 1841.