SIGNED BY J.P. MORGAN AND OTHER LEADING EPISCOPALIANS: THE SECOND AMERICAN BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER, 1892, LIMITED CANONICAL EDITION, RULED IN RED AND SIGNED BY THE MEMBERS OF THE REVISION COMMITTEE OF THE PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL CHURCH

BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments…. New York: Printed for the [General] Convention [by the De Vinne Press], 1893. Thick folio, period style full black crushed morocco, elaborately gilt decorated spine, raised bands, top edge gilt, uncut.    $6500.

Limited large-paper canonical edition, one of 75 copies-one for each judicatory of the Protestant Episcopal Church—of the 1892 American Book of Common Prayer—the second American edition of the prayer book-beautifully printed and ruled in red throughout, signed by all members of the prayer book revision committee, including important financier J.P. Morgan.

Source of the Anglican Church’s shared liturgical life since 1549, the Book of Common Prayer was first adapted for use in America in 1789, and underwent its second American revision in 1892. The new Standard, as it was called, was issued in three formats: a simple copy for attendees of the 1892 General Convention (Griffiths 1892:5); a decorative edition of 500 numbered copies (Griffiths 1893:7); and this limited “canonical edition,” numbering 75 copies, distributed to all Episcopalian judicatories (Griffiths 1893:6; But One Use 95). “Throughout his life, [financier J.P.] Morgan was a strong supporter of the Protestant Episcopal church” (ANB), support that included his service on the revision committee that produced the 1892 revision. In a contemporary review, The Independent, an Episcopal church newspaper, declared: “That the completed and perfected Standard, just issued from the De Vinne press, appears in the sumptuous form which makes it confessedly the finest production of the American printer’s art is due to Mr. J. Pierpoint Morgan, who from the moment of his appointment as a member of the committee has never ceased devising liberal things for the furtherance of the work."

Scattered light foxing, occasional inoffensive embrowning to interior. A beautiful copy, with several important authentic signatures.