1804 TIMOTHY DWIGHT. First "Americanized" Presbyterian Hymnal from Isaac Watts. Very Rare!

A very rare first edition of Timothy Dwight's new "americanized" version of Isaac Watts + a separate new hymnal compiled for the Presbyterians by Dwight commissioned the General Assembly in 1799. 

"After the American Revolution, it became early the general wish of the Churches and Congregations in this country, that such passages in Doctor Watts' version of the Psalms, as were local, and inapplicable to our own circumstances, might be altered, and made to accord with those circumstances" 

This in essence meant that lines in Watts equating the Crown in England with the Crown of David are here freshly appropriated to America, etc., Fascinating stuff. 

Dwight, Timothy. The Psalms of David, Imitated in the Language of th New Testament, and applied to the Christian Use and Worship. by I. Watts. A New Edition. In which the Psalms Omitted by Dr. Watts are versified, local passages are altered, and a number of Psalms are Versified anew in Proper Metres. Albany. Printed and Published by Whiting, Backus & Whiting. 1804. 394pp

[bound with]

Dwight, Timothy. Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge, and Various Other Writers. According to the Recommendation of the Joint Committee of the General Association of Connecticut, and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America. Albany. Printed and Published by Whiting, Backus, & Whiting. 1804. 236pp

Very rare, complete in 24mo (6 x 4"). As issued, errors in pagination: In "The Psalms of David," pages 233-234 are omitted; p. 347 misnumbered 743; In "Hymns", pages 119 and 215 are misnumbered 118, 115. Contemporary full spotted calf, with gold lettering and ruling to spine. The first book is the result of the author's challenging goal to write translations - in rhyme and meter - of the Psalms of David, in everyday language for congregational singing. The 150 psalms are carefully composed in poetic beauty. Each paragraph captures the essence of each Psalm and each Scripture, and rhymes in perfect harmony. Bound with "The Psalms of David" is "Hymns Selected from Dr. Watts, Dr. Doddridge, and Various Other Writers." The book is a selection of 263 hymns from the best hymnwriters of the 18th century, such as Isaac Watts, Philip Doddridge, Benjamin Beddome, Anne Steele, Samuel Medley, Tate and Brady, John Rippon, Joseph Addison, Samuel Stennett, John Fawcett, William Cowper, John Newton, Thomas Gibbons, Samuel Davies, Benjamin Francis, Daniel Turner, John Needham, Augustus Toplady, and John Leech.

Binding rubbed along spine. Minor reinforcement to blank ffep, one page torn with corner torn off [which is into text] and corner present. 

The only other copy on the market, and it less ex library with binding defects, offered at $750.00. Ours very affordably offered.