The Book of Common Prayer and Administration of the Sacraments, and Other Rites and Ceremonies, as Revised and Proposed for the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church, at a Convention of the Said Church in the states of New-York, New-Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and South-Carolina, Held in Philadelphia, from September 27th to October 7th, 1785 by [Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America] - 1789

London: Philadelphia printed, Re-Printed J. Debrett, 1789. First edition. Leather_bound. Very Good. 4 3/4 x 7 1/2 inches. 8vo. [364] pages including the errata sheet and terminal advertisement. Collates as: a (2 leaves) + b (6 leaves) + A - B (in 6s) + C - P (in 12s) + Q (6 leaves). Handwritten note to ffep in near contemporary hand noting "Rev'd Marshall D. Smith, Passaic, New Jersey. Very rare and therefore to be carefully used and returned to the owner." Small thumbnail sized chip at bottom outer margin of title page with no loss of text. Some light soiling to first half of the text, but pages otherwise clean and free from marking soiling or staining. Top edge brightly gilt. Other edges uncut. Bound in early 20th Century polished calf by Pratt with gilt panels of triple gilt-ruled borders and gilt acorn decorations in corners. Original spine with six gilt decorated compartments and two black morocco spine labels relaid. Extremities lightly rubbed. Griffiths 1789/8. A spectacular and uncut copy of the rarest Anglican/Episcopal Prayer Book. The Protestant Episcopal Church was founded at a convention at Philadelphia in 1785. After the American Revolution, a new American Prayer Book was proposed and printed in an edition of 4000 copies by a Philadelphia printer. This edition was printed in a very limited number for the use of the bishops in England. Only fifty (50) copies were printed. "[A] rarer book connected with American church history can hardly be named." Perry's History.