. . . Professor Anthon . . . the master-spirit who gave the first impulse to the great movement . . .

THE UNITED STATES MAGAZINE AND DEMOCRATIC REVIEW. . . . Volume Six. Containing the Political and Literary Portions of the Numbers Published in July, August, September, October, November, and December, 1839.  Washington, D.C.: Published by Langtree and O'Sullivan. 1839.

21 cm. (binding 21¾ cm. = 8½ inches tall).

[1]f. (general title); [1]-80 pp.; [1]f. (title to August issue); [81]-540 pages). COLLATED COMPLETE (p. 387 mis-numbered "390" but correct). Lomazow, American Periodicals 355: "An important, unillustrated monthly magazine, which combined the political views of Jackson and Van Buren with original contributions by many prominent authors . . ."

A handsome volume: Original full calf; black leather labels on gilt spine, double gilt fillet borders around boards, board edges gilt, attractive dark blue marbled endpapers. Gilt ownership stamp on front board of one Erastus Miller. Binding in excellent condition; text foxed.

**SOLD**$175

"ANTHON'S SCHOOL CLASSICS," a well-written article on pages 45-58, praises and reviews a series of books still prized by Mormon libraries and collectors to this day: It was to Prof. Charles ANTHON at Columbia College (now Columbia University) in New York City that Martin Harris took the characters copied by Joseph Smith from the gold plates of the Book of Mormon in 1828.

HOW MANY American professors are discussed in the Book of Mormon or the Pearl of Great Price? Read about Anthon in Joseph Smith History 1:63-5, then turn to 2 Nephi 27:15-18. It is clear from those two passages that, according to Mormon doctrine, the man discussed in the volume now offered here was also discussed by Nephi in the Book of Mormon.

According to this 1839 review, Charles Anthon's editions brought higher learning to a nation which had been preoccupied until that time with the necessities of pragmatic and mechanical arts:

. . . it was with particular gratification that we noticed some considerable time ago, the announcement of a series of school classics, of a higher grade than any thing of the kind previously published in America, to issue from the press of the Harpers in New York, under the supervision of the Jay Professor of the Greek and Latin languages of Columbia College, a gentleman whose name afforded, in itself, an ample and abundant guarantee of excellence in any works which should be ushered to the public, under his auspices and sanction. Up to this time the elementary books, used in our schools and colleges, have been almost exclusively reprints of English works, often abridgements of more voluminous editions curtailed, or garbled, injudiciously by the American reviser, for the purpose of enabling him to procure a copy-right in the United States. . . . It was, therefore, with much gratification that we observed the first announcement of the intention of Dr. Anthon to devote his attention, for some time to come, of the reliques left us by the Poets, Historians, and Philosophers of olden times. [pp.48-9]

"In conclusion," the article finishes,

we hail the appearance of this series, as. . . the tokens and forerunners of a new a nobler era, wherein our country shall show itself to possess as much desire to gain, and the same means of gaining, a high and creditable station in the accomplishments, the elegancies, and the liberal arts, which add so much to the real enjoyments of human life . . .and to the diffusion of the inestimable blessings of a common education to the humblest classes of its citizens: and when this era shall arive [sic], as certain we are that it will shortly, Professor Anthon will be as surely hailed the master-spirit who gave the first impulse to the great movement, the end of which no man may see, or judge of, except by vague conjecture. [pp.57-8]

Other important articles of interest in this volume include a poem, "The Treasure Digger" signed "A. E.," pp. 253-4; two articles on "The Projected Ship Canal to Connect the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans," pp. 287-307 and 413-24; and an article taken from the London Globe describing "The secret of M. Daguerre's wonderful invention, or discovery, by which he is enabled to transfer an exact transcript of rural scenery, buildings, &c. to paper, and fix the colors permanently . . ." A most exciting and collectible periodical volume.