The Hymns, Anthems & Tunes with the Ode used at the Magdalen Chapel Set for the Organ, Harpsichord, Voice, German-Flute or Guitar

London: Printed for C. and S. Thompson, 1765. A poorly preserved copy of a scarce edition of the Magdalen Chapel (London) Hymn Book. Worldcat lists only two copies, one in Magdalen College Library Oxford and the other in King's College (London). The work is undated but OLIS gives 1765 (?), the same date suggested for the similarly undated Thorowgood edition. A calligraphic ownership inscription on the recto of the engraved frontispiece was done in October 1779. Frontispiece engraving of "A Magdalen in Her Uniform" with Magdalen Chapel in the background (cf the Thorowgood edition without the building and the figure reversed), lower right quarter torn with loss of part of image and title, left margin cropped recto with ownership inscription of Sophia Taylor, October 29th 1779. Title page soiled, remounted, lower margin cropped; index (remounted),1-2 torn at gutter margin, 11-12 top corner missing without loss of text, 35-36 frayed and remounted with loss of 1 letter of verse 3 of the Hymn for Christmas. OLIS lists 37 pages but this does not concur with the index of this copy where the last page is 36 (index may then be the 37th page) Late 19th century half leather with marbled boards. A few pencil notes giving name of composer. Damp-stained at gutters and fore edges, particularly at the beginning and end. Founded in 1758 as an institution to help reform prostitutes, most of the organists in the chapel were women who lived there in an atmosphere likened to that of a nunnery by contemporary observers.. Hardcover. Poor. 8vo - over 7¾ - 9¾" tall. Book.