Thomas, Erasmus D. A New and Choice selection of Hymns and Spiritual Songs for the use of the Regular Baptist church, and all lovers of song. Indianapolis: Baker & Randolph?, ca. 1877. [9398]
Poor binding with a detached front board, lacking the rear board, 5 1/2 x 4 inches. Contents defective: 3-334, 339-543, [1], (1)-14, 19. Lacks the title page, 2 leaves of text (pp. 335-338), and 2 leaves of the Index. The index is tattered with loss, and detached. Poor.
Starr, A Baptist Bibliography, no. T1100. "Elder Thomas, pastor of Regular Baptist church, Danville, Indiana." WorldCat locates only 5 copies of any edition.
"Primitive Baptists. Among the text-only collections for Primitive Baptists, those by Benjamin Lloyd and Gilbert Beebe appear to have been most widely used through the end of the nineteenth century, though they had competitors. Among these were...A New and Choice Selection, compiled...by Erasmus D. Thomas of Danville, Indiana...In compiling his book, Thomas solicited suggestions regarding its content, a process that led to the inclusion of some gospel songs, among them Fanny Crosby's 'Pass me not, O gentle Saviour.'" - Music & Richardson, "I Will Sing the Wondrous Story", pp. 390-391.
With a signed provenance card from the collection of A. Merril Smoak, Jr., DWS.