The General Epistle of the Latter Day Saints. Dated: Winter Quarters, Nebraska December 23, 1847, and constituting the earliest known examples of printing in the present state of Nebraska
Chicago: The Black Cat Press, 1935. 1/120. [26]pp. Octavo [24 cm] Tan cloth with brown paper printed label on the front board. Glassine jacket present. Near fine, Item #10978
General Epistle from the Council of the Twelve Apostles marks the beginning of Mormonism's Utah period. Issued fifty-three days after Brigham Young and most of the Twelve returned to Winter Quarters following their trek to the Great Salt Lake Valley, it opens with an account of the evacuation of Nauvoo, the settling of the Iowa camps, the call of the Mormon Battalion, and the overland journey of the pioneer company. It announces the establishment of a new home for the Latter-day Saints, describes the Salt Lake Valley, and calls upon the Saints to gather "on the east side of the Missouri River, and, if possible, be ready to start from hence by the first of May next, or as soon as grass is sufficiently grown, and go to the Great Salt Lake City." It counsels those unable to move to the Valley the following summer to settle for a time near Council Bluffs, urges the European Saints to immigrate speedily, by way of New Orleans to the Bluffs, and asks all those coming west to bring whatever seeds, plants, livestock, tools, machinery, books, maps, charts, and scientific instruments they can to the Valley.
Price: $200.00