THOMPSON, Charles [Blancher].  EVIDENCES IN PROOF OF THE BOOK OF MORMON, BEING A DIVINELY INSPIRED RECORD, Written by the Forefathers of the Natives Whom We Call Indians, (Who are a remnant of the Tribe of Joseph,) And Hid Up in the Earth, But Come Forth in Fulfilment of Prophesy for the Gathering of Israel and the Re-establishing of the Kingdom of God upon the Earth. Together With All the Objections Commonly Urged Against It, Answered and Refuted—To Which is Added a Proclamation and Warning to the Gentiles Who Inhabit America. By Charles Thompson, Minister of the Gospel. "Now, therefore, be ye not mockers, lest your bands be made strong: for I have heard from the Lord God of hosts a consumption even determined upon the whole earth." Isaiah, 28.—22.  Batavia, N. Y.: Published by D. D. Waite., 1841.

13½ cm. (binding 14 cm. = 5½ inches tall). 256 pages, COLLATED COMPLETE.

Original brown roan leather spine with five single gilt rules; original brown marbled boards. Original tan end leaves, front pastedown still bearing the contemporary inked price, "$. 37½."

Medium wear to all extremities, but a solid copy with minimalist expert strengthening to spine. Text foxed, but without tears or writing. Certainly a very good copy, and most uncommon with the vulnerable sheep spine still essentially intact and the gold bright.

Contained in a fine custom-made morocco leather-backed FOLDING BOX with rounded spine:

FIRST EDITION. Flake 8934; Crawley 134; Woodward, Bibliothica Scallawagiana (1880), 274, bound in cloth; Seagull Books Catalogue One (1992), 375, saying, "First extended defence [sic] of the authenticity of the Book of Mormon by a Mormon author."

I AM SORRY that the word, "rare," has lost its meaning in eBay Mormon sales. To me, "rare" is a special term to use occasionally, when I really mean it. This book is rare. I know of two examples listed within the past two years by preeminent Mormon Americana dealers. One example was described in original cloth, rubbed, with cracked hinges repaired, "Later endpapers. Printing on title somewhat faint. Light foxing, but very good." Its price was $9,500.00. Another copy, currently listed online, is in contemporary boards but rebacked, "Some light scattered staining, mostly in margins of first dozen or so leaves. Very good. A great Mormon rarity . . ." The price of that copy (March 12, 2004) is $6,500 (up from $3,750 for the same copy only two years ago by the same bookseller). Both of these dealers are highly respected authorities on the East Coast.

"WE HAVE LAYING BEFORE US," wrote Ebenezer Robinson, editor of the Times and Seasons for January 1, 1842, "a neat little work of 256 pages, 32 mo. entitled 'Evidences in proof of the Book of Mormon' &c. By Charles Thompson, minister of the gospel; published at Batavia, N. Y. We are much pleased with the spirit manifested by the writer, and feel to commend him in his laudable undertaking." Indeed, four and a half pages (more than a quarter of this issue) were devoted to extracts from Thompson's proofs and comments. (Times and Seasons 3:5; pp. 640-44)

Such a work was needed badly. Thompson took on the project with apologies for his personal limitations, hoping to benefit "the young Elders and Priests who are just commencing in their ministry," as well as new converts and an uninformed public (Preface, p. [3]). Among the "young" missionaries was Thompson himself, only twenty-seven years of age. He had joined the Church at age 21, was soon appointed a seventy, and in 1838 joined the Kirtland Camp to Far West, Missouri . . .

Charles Thompson's 1838 signature on the Kirtland Camp constitution as reproduced in Milton V. Backman, The Heavens Resound; A History of the Latter-day Saints in Ohio 1830-1838 (Salt Lake City, 1983), p. 390.

PETER CRAWLEY explains that Thompson then undertook a four-year mission to his native state of New York, and baptized nearly a hundred converts in Batavia who encouraged him in the production of this book. Crawley demonstrates that portions draw upon the Gospel Reflector, an important LDS periodical-format treatise published by Benjamin Winchester in Philadelphia during the first half of 1841.

Native American antiquities, Bible prophecy - even an acrostic-based poem comprise various segments of this handy volume. Pages 235-40 contain Thompson's own Mormon folk verse, an unnoticed extra! These homely lines will not conceal the exuberance of the early Saints. Two segments caught my attention as particularly interesting . . .

In eighteen hundred thirty-three,
As many did most plainly see,
Signs in the stars were then shone forth,
And plainly seen in all the earth. [p. 236]

This was the famous meteor shower noticed by so many Americans, including Joseph Smith, November 18, 1833 (". . . beautiful, grand, and sublime beyond description . . ." History of the Church I:439).  Interestingly, on page 235, Thompson also describes a lesser-known display which shot past the Kirtland Temple years later . . .

In eighteen hundred thirty-eight,
As I will now to you relate—
'Twas on the eighteenth day of May,
About the closing of the day,
A brilliant thing I did espy,
'Twas passing through the eastern sky:
A ball of fire it seemed to be,
A fiery stream behind I see.
This sign in heaven passed along,
As you will learn by this my song;
Until it passed the house of God,
Who'll scourge this nation with his rod.
Then it was parted, roll'd in balls,
And vanished out of sight of all.

 

Illustration of the temple above taken from Henry Howe, Historical Collections of Ohio . . . (Cincinnati, 1848 ed.), p. 283. It was NOT published in Thompson's Evidences described here and therefore does not appear in this volume; shown here for background interest only.

 

Thompson defines "the house of God" as "The Temple in Kirtland, Ohio" in a note at the bottom of the page. Joseph Smith was in Missouri at this time, no Church periodicals were published that month, and I find no reference to this fiery Kirtland phenomenon in LDS Church history except this first-hand account by Charles Thompson now at hand.

Dr. Crawley confirms that this book was indeed sold early on for 37¢, conforming to the old price still seen on the front pastedown of this copy. He also describes a number of original bindings found on this book, all of them cloth or paper except for the last style listed, "half or three-quarter brown leather with marbled paper boards." I don't think one will find another copy for sale in this original leather-backed binding/condition, or for such a price (my reserve being substantially lower than the examples noted further above in this presentation).

I have owned this book for quite some time, and have never mentioned or offered it to anyone for sale until this eBay listing. As with all reputable antiquarian booksellers, I insist that you be happy with your purchase. The book is returnable (in same condition, insured at buyer's expense) for full and cheerful refund within ten days of receipt.

AUTHENTICITY GUARANTEED. Insured shipping at my expense; New York State residents add 7¼ % sales tax.

My name is Rick Grunder, a former Chairman of the Brigham Young University Library Bibliographic Department. Please click on the “me” logo beside seller's name at the top of this page to find my web site with other material for sale.

RICK GRUNDER – BOOKS, established 1981, specializing in the origins of Mormonism.  Member, Antiquarian Booksellers' Association of America, International League of Antiquarian Booksellers, Ephemera Society of America.