Eben-Ezer bei Buffalo im St. N.Y. [Die Gemeinde der wahren Inspiration], 1854. First edition. 12mo, original black sheep spine and tips, marbled boards, 244 pages. At the head of the title, “J. J. J.” An uncommon relic of the communal colonies that evolved into the Amana Society in Iowa; the..... More

[Canton, O. Peter Kaufmann and E. Luft, 1868]. First edition. Broadside, 12.13 x 9.88 inches, printed in two columns in a decorative border. A rare carrier’s address from editor and publisher Kaufmann (1800-1869), was known for his involvement at Harmony and then as a founding member of Teutonia; he later..... More

Benton Harbor, Mich. Published by the Israelite House of David as Re-organized by Mary Purnell, [after 1970]. First City of David edition. Original printed green wrappers, 5.88 x 4.25 inches, 11, [1] pages. A separately-published sermon from Jezreel, the Sixth Messenger—generally taken as the source for Benjamin Purnell’s authority as..... More

New York: Rinehart & Company, Inc., (1955). First edition. 8vo, original black cloth spine, cream boards, white lettering, [viii], 305 pages. Original printed dust jacket. A presentation copy, inscribed in ink on the front free endpaper, "Saul -- who if he agrees will I trust help spread my dream since..... More

New York: D. Appleton and Company, 1859. First edition. 12mo, original brown cloth, gilt lettering, 189 pages. Prepared by Evans, Calvin Green, and Giles Avery, a good overview of the history and beliefs of the Shakers up to this period. A minor variant on the binding title noted in Richmond..... More

Albany: Printed by Packard & Van Benthuysen, 1823. First edition. 12mo, contemporary tree calf, blue morocco label, gilt rules and lettering, xvi, 320 pages. An account meant to explain the views and practices of the Shakers to the world at large. Early bookplate of the Wesleyan Academy, Wilbraham, Mass., on..... More

Americus, Georgia: Koinonia Partners, 1976. 8vo, original self-wrappers, 16 pages, illus.; 8vo, original self-wrappers, 16 pages, illus.; 6 leaves (unbound, unstapled, but mailed folded together), approx. 8.5 x 11 inches, illus. The newsletter gives broad outlines of the contemporary workings of the community (and includes order forms for various calico..... More

[Benton Harbor, Mich. n. p., ca. 1930-1940?]. Blue felt printed in gilt, approx. 14.75 inches long with a 5-inch base. Aimed at the tourist trade for this Israelite Adventist communal group, the City of David the colony led by Benjamin Purnell’s widow, Mary Purnell, after she and her followers separated..... More

Cincinnati, March 13, 1833. 4 pages, 9-3/4 x 8 inches, integral address, approx. 1250 words. One gets some sense from this letter of the preoccupations of the era, as well as a hint at the tension between religion and progressive thought; Frances writes to her long-silent brother, “We heard thro’..... More

Oneida Reserve, N.Y. (Leonard and Company, Printers), June 28, 1851. 8vo, unbound, eight leaves, [241]-256 pages, untrimmed. The weekly newspaper of the perfectionist utopian Oneida Community and its leader John Humphrey Noyes, edited by Noyes' sister Harriet. This issue includes a lengthy nine page account of the beginnings and the..... More

Oneida Reserve, N.Y. (Leonard and Company, Printers), March 13, 1851. 8vo, unbound, eight leaves, [49]-64 pages, untrimmed. Two old stab holes. The weekly newspaper of the perfectionist utopian Oneida Community and its leader John Humphrey Noyes. With one of Noyes' lengthy Home-Talks (on killing off the mercantile spirit of bargaining)..... More

Harvard [Mass.]: Published by the United Society, 1853. First edition. Original printed blue wrappers, 7.38 x 4.5 inches, 88 pages. “As the Believers in Christ’s second appearing hold all things in common, and enter into a Christian compact of full consecration, in all things, temporal as well as spiritual, we..... More

[Watervliet, N.Y. n. p., ca. 1850]. Single leaf of pearlblush stock, printed recto only, approx. 1 x 1.63 inches. Decorative type border. An attractive medicinal herb label produced for the Watervliet (N.Y.) Shaker communal society. More