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"It is possible that Harris might have made the advances with the expectation of a profitable speculation, as a great sale was anticipated." - front page
THE RURAL REPOSITORY, A Semi-monthly Journal, Embellished with Engravings. Hudson, N.Y.: [Published by William B. Stoddard], for Saturday, November 5, 1842 [XIX:11].
Quarto, 28 X 22½ cm. (= 11 X 8½ inches). Paged [81]-88 (eight pages, complete issue). Neatly disbound; medium foxing.
postpaid: $100**SOLD**
The front page is entirely devoted to an article on Palmyra, New York, taken from Barber & Howe's Historical Collections of . . . New York . . . (which was first published in 1841). The article continues for another column on the next page, and is headed by the wood-cut illustration (2¼ X 4 inches, often reproduced in Mormon historical publications to the present day) entitled: "Eastern View in Main-Street, Palmyra," showing horse-drawn vehicles in the spacious street. This would be one of the earliest illustrations of this village.
Nearly the entire lengthy article (approx. 1,600 words) discusses the history of Joseph Smith and the Mormons. The appearance of this account here is significant as a popularizing of the version presented previously in a topographical reference work. The following selection offers a sampling of the tone:
In October, 1830, this mission, consisting of Cowdery, Pratt, Peterson, and Whitmer, arrived at Mentor, Ohio, the residence of Rigdon, well supplied with the new Bibles. Near this place, in Kirtland, there were a few families belonging to Rigdon's congregation, who having become extremely fanatical, were daily looking for some wonderful event to take place in the world. Seventeen of these persons readily believed in Mormonism, and were all re-immersed, in one night, by Cowdery. By the conversation [sic] of Rigdon, soon after, Mormonism received a powerful impetus, and more than one hundred converts were speedily added. Rigdon visited Smith at Palmyra, where he tarried about two months, receiving revelations, preaching, &c. He then returned to Kirtland, Ohio, and was followed a few days after by the prophet Smith and his connections. Thus from a state of almost beggary, the family of Smith were furnished with the "fat of the land" by their disciples, many of whom were wealthy.
A Mormon temple was erected at Kirtland, at an expense of about $50,000. In this building, there was a sacred apartment, a kind of holy of holies, in which none but the preists were allowed to enter. [page 82]