Das Neue und Verbesserte Gesang-Buch, worinnen die Psalmen Davids samt einer Sammlung alter und neuer Geistreicher Lieder sowohl für Privat und Hausandachten

Philadelphia: Steiner und Kämmerer, und H. Kämmerer, jun, 1797. Hardcover. Very Good. Title contintued: "als auch für den öffentlichen Gottesdienst enthalten sind. Nebst einem Anhang des Heydelbergischen Catechismus, wie auch erbaulicher Gebäter. Nach einem Synodal Schluss zusammen-getragen und eingerichtet vor die Evangelisch-Reformirten Gemeinen in den Vereinigten Staaten von America." [8], 148, [8], 585, [43] p.: frontispiece, music; 17 cm. Signatures: pi4 A-N6 (A)-(Ddd)6 (Eee)2 (12mo). Errors in signing: I1 not signed; (N) signed N; (Mm2) signed (Mn2). Contemporary full black calf with six spine compartments between raised bands. Red leather label in second compartment with gilt-tooled title: Reformiert Gesangbuch. Gilt-tooled decoration in remaining compartments. Red leather label on front board with gilt-tooled former owner's name, "1798" and border. Gilt-tooled chain-pattern borders on both boards; gilt-rolled edges. All page edges gilt. Yellow-and-black-patterned endpapers. Printed in two columns. Wood engraved head- and tail-pieces. "Sammlung alter und neuer geistreicher Lieder . . . der Evangelisch-Reformirten Gemeinen" has separate title page dated 1797. Final 33 unpaginated pages contain the Heidelberger catechism and some prayers. Former owner inscription in German script on blank leaf following front free endpaper: "Karl Friederich Philipps Gesangbuch, Philadelphia, 1826." Early American Imprints, 32100; First Century of German Language Printing, 1090. This was the first official German Reformed hymnal printed in the United States; later editions dropped the hyphen, using the title Das Neue und Verbesserte Gesangbuch. In Very Good Condition: leather is rubbed with some loss of gilt; edges of leather spine label chipped; most of original owner's name on front label has been rubbed out; small scrape to upper edge of front board; a few page corners creased; pages are slightly browned throughout; otherwise clean and tight.