Social Harmony: Containing First, the Rudiments of Psalmody Made Easy

BENHAM, Asahel. Social Harmony: Containing First, the Rudiments of Psalmody Made Easy. Second, a Collection of Modern Music, Calculated for the Use of Singing Schools and Worshipping Assemblies. [New Haven, CT: Printed by Thomas and Samuel Green, 1798]. 1st ed. Oblong 8vo. [4],9-14,[2],17-56,[4]pp. Orig. calf-backed boards. Boards lightly rubbed, light toning and scattered foxing, else a very good copy. Evans 33398. Sabin 4695n. Music printed from engraved plates. The final two leaves have music written in manuscript and a leaf of manuscript music is tipped in. In the recto of the rear free endpaper are two verses in manuscript. The Preface is dated Wallingford, September 6, 1798. Advertised as "Just published by Asahel Benham and for sale by him in Wallingford, also by Mr. Isaac Beers, New Haven," in the Connecticut Journal, New Haven, October 24, 1798. Music engraved by C. Beecher (probably Clement Beecher). See: G. M. Curtis, Early Silver of Connecticut and Its Makers, pp. 84-85. With the ownership inscription on front free endpaper, "February the 4th 1800, Meriden, Andrew and Huldah Johnson's Book. Wallingford. …