• On Select Text of Scripture
• On Occasional Subjects
• On the Progress & changes of the Spiritual Life

By Newton, Rev. James

London: Thomas Tegg. 1779, First Edition. 32mo – 10.6cm, (2), XVI, 304pp. Including Table of the Hymns at rear. Publisher’s full contemporary leather with bright gilt decoration and border ruling on front and rear covers, spine with bright gilt title and ornate decoration, original soft yellow endpapers, all page edges gilt. Near Fine and complete – a Very Rare and complete copy of the Olney Hymns showing the first publication of the hymn “Amazing Grace” (p.38-39). This unique and most important copy is preserved in a custom full-leather clam shell box. Very Rare First English edition.

“Amazing Grace” was penned by John Newton (1725–1807), an English poet and clergyman, and saw its first publication in 1779. The hymn resonates with a powerful message being forgiveness and redemption are possible for all, regardless of past transgressions, and deliverance from despair is attainable through God’s mercy. Today, “Amazing Grace” is regarded as one of the most famous and beloved songs within the English-speaking world, and it has been translated in over 50 languages in large part due to its universal message.

In the United States, “Amazing Grace” gained widespread use during the Second Great Awakening in the early 19th century. Over time, it has been associated with more than twenty melodies, but it is most often sung to the tune “New Britain,” adopted in 1835. Gilbert Chase describes “Amazing Grace” as “without a doubt the most famous of all the folk hymns.” John Newton’s biographer, Jonathan Aitken, estimates the hymn is performed about ten million times each year. It has profoundly influenced folk music and has become an emblematic African American spiritual. Its universal message has driven its adoption by secular audiences as well, fueling its resurgence in the United States during the 1960s and inspiring thousands of recordings, some of which have reached the popular music charts.

$28500.00 -