first edition
1868 · [New York]
by [Deseret Alphabet] [George Watt] [Brigham Young]
[New York]: [Russell Brothers], 1868. First Edition. 72pp. Duodecimo [19 cm] 1/4 brown cloth over cream printed boards. Very good. Gentle age toning to boards. Second Deseret Alphabet primer, and one-of-four books printed by Brigham Young and the LDS Church in the Deseret Alphabet. Illustrations from the 'Wilson Readers.' "[Brigham] Young therefore directed George D. Watt, an Englishman, and an early Mormon convert, to create a new alphabet based on English language phonic values. Watt may have been Young's personal secretary. What is certain is that he was an expert in the then-new and very popular Pitman system of shorthand. The alphabet assignment was handed to Watt in 1853, and by the following year he was able to lay before Young a 32 - character system (eventually increased to 38)" - Wentz, Roby 'Thirty-eight Mormon Characters' p.12.
(Inventory #: 8338)