1848 SAMUEL DANA. Superb Micro-Miniature Handwritten Lord's Prayer in Circumference of a Half-Dime.

An absolute little charmer of an artifact of the time. The present minute manuscript of the Lord's Prayer measures just 5/8 of an inch and is ine hand of a well-known divine with a miniscule hand, Rev. Samuel Dana of Marblehead, MA. 

Samuel Dana [1768-1864] was ordained Pastor of the Old North Church in Marblehead Massachusetts on October 17, 1801, where his father, Rev. Joseph Dana, preached the message. His ministry was widely considered very effective, with nearly 500 persons added to the church. One historian describes his ministry as marked by "unusual prosperity." 

He was an active and committed pastor, especially to those outside the flock and to the young. In an effort to reach both, he established one of the earliest Sunday Schools in Massachusetts in 1817. It was specifically designed to reach the poor and marginalized of the community and not held in the church to take away ever hindrance possible. 

He published Two Sermons Delivered on the Sabbath Following His Ordination [1801]; A Sermon Preached at the Ordination of Ebenezer Hubbard 1808]; A Sermon Delivered on the Fast Day [1809]; A Sermon Delivered at the Ordination of John Bartlett to the Pastoral Care of the Second Church at Marblehead [1811]; A Discourse on the History of the First Christian Church and Society in Marblehead [1816]; A Sermon Delivered at the Ordination of Daniel Fitz [1826]; etc. 

You can see more examples of his legendarily diminutive writing in his own notebook preserved by the Congregational Library, here: Page Viewer (nehh-viewer.s3-website-us-east-1.amazonaws.com)

The present item was created when he was over 70 years old! 

Inside the 5/8 inch circle is the complete Lord's Prayer, signed S.D., entirely in Dana's hand. Then, surrounding the Lord's Prayer, also in his hand, is the following inscription, "Keepsake penned within the compass of a half-dime by S. Dana - Agd 70 1/3. Oct. 9, '48." The inscription around the Lord's Prayer adds a bit, making it just a touch over 3/4 of an inch total. 

Superbly preserved. Signed again on the rear. And accompanied by a short handwritten note by the son-in-law of Edwin Dorr Griffin and notable autograph collector, Rev. Robert Crawford, essentially restating what the external circle indicates. Simply charming. A truly wonderful little piece of Americana.