THE ROMAN MISSAL Translated into the English Language for the Use of the Laity by Rt. Rev. John England - 1843

Philadelphia: Eugene Cummiskey, 1843. Second Edition. Leather bound. 108, 720, pages 322-339, for a total of 846p. A small book bound in an attractive deep burgundy colored full 19th century morocco leather binding. Boards and spine elaborately stamped in gilt, all edges gilt. Mild shelf wear along edges from normal handling. About a dozen pages are tanned from age (apparently the printer used a different type of paper) but the remaining text is clean and unmarked. Thumb-sized piece torn from the upper right corner of one of the preliuminary blank pages else the work is whole and complete. Overall in very good condition. Measures approx. 4x6 inches. John England was named the first Bishop of Charleston SC in 1820. The diocese at that time included South Carolina, North Carolina, and Georgia. England was a major figure in early American Catholic history as he built the Church in the South. He had a major role in the First Baltimore Council. Active on mmany fronts, he produced this English-language edition of the Missal to be used by the laity. The text is entirely in English and includeds the different introits, prayers, and readings for each day of the Liturgical Year. The first edition was issued in New York in 1822; we offer the second edition. The first 1080 pages are a history and explanation of the Mass by Bishop Engalnd; the next 720 pages are a translation of the Missal and the final 18 pages (oddly numbered 322-339) are a translation of Vespers.