Hedding, Elijah; Waugh, Beverly; et al. Hymns for the use of The Methodist Episcopal Church. Revised Edition. With Supplement. Cincinnati: Swormstedt & Power, ca 1850. Revised Edition. [11442]
Black leather with elaborate gilt stamping, 3 1/2 x 2 1/4 inches, tight, all page edges gilt. As found, in original condition. Lacks the title page and the imprint given above is from previous copies but it was printed in several places. "By Rev. John Thompson" in brown ink on the ffep, beneath it in faint pencil is "Edith Hinkson's Book, 1851," with in a drawn ivy border. Many pressed four leaf clovers, left in place. Ding near the top of the fore-edge on many pages, affecting only the margins with no loss. 714, 49 pages; counted and complete except for the title page. Fair. Hardcover.
1148 selections, words only, with metre given. Has several indexes. The Supplement is "Hymns for Sunday-Schools, Youth, and Children," with 79 hymns, words only.
Even with the defect this is a collectible little hymnal. Someone patiently collected over 50 four leaf clovers over the years and pressed them between the pages as a keepsake. It will look great on your shelf and there is a story behind it; perhaps some research of Edith Hinkson from the 1850's turn up something.
