The Columbian Harmonist, No. 1, containing First. A Plain and Concise Introduction to Psalmody: fitly calculated for the use of Singing Schools. Second. A Choice Collection of New Psalm Tunes of American Composition.

READ, Daniel, author of The American Sinning Book. [DOOLITTLE, Amos, engraver]. The Columbian Harmonist, No. 1, containing First. A Plain and Concise Introduction to Psalmody fitly calculated for the use of Singing Schools. Second. A Choice Collection of New Psalm Tunes of American Composition. Oblong 8vo, original flexible marbled boards (a goodly portion of the marble paper is no longer), pp. 39, [1] Index, [4] blank leaves (with manuscript music on 5 pages), the last blank leaf pasted down, stitched. New Haven: Printed for & Sold by the Editor, Sold also by the Principal Book-sellers in the United States [1793-1794].

First Edition, second issue with variant imprint. Read (1757-1836), together with William Billing "was the most significant American composer of psalmody during the 18th and early 19th centuries."-Richard Crawford in Grove. Other parts would follow in later years. "Engraved for the Editor by A. Doolittle 1793" at foot of the index. Advertised as just published 10 July 1793, that issue contains the name of R. Atwell in the imprint as a seller of the book. "Read's correspondence shows that in the spring of 1793 he was negotiating with Atwell to sell books for him in the South, but in October the proposed partnership was dissolved...Subsequently Atwell's name was removed from the t-p."-Britton, Lowens & Crawford 417a, locating six copies at five institutions (Yale (2); DLC; ICN (lacking blank staves); NJPT; RPB). Printed from the same plates, the contents and the music remained the same as the one with Atwell's name. Large calligraphic ownership inscription inside front cover: "John Jencke's Singing Book Providence, March 15, 1797." There were several Providence men with that name alive in 1797. A copy used as it was intended, it has some browning and staining throughout, but is still in very good condition. This variant not n Evans, Sabin or Trumbull.