I just got back from SLC where I was ushered through the new Church Library of the LDS Church by the Head of Conservation. What a beautiful building. He gave me the tour while we talked shop. We looked at the very cool (sub-zero) storage vaults and , of course, the conservation labs. While talking about equipment, layout etc, they pulled from a secured container a 1st Edition of the Book of Mormon. Did you know that most 1st Editions are missing their original title pages? I think they get sold separately. This one was missing too. But on the blank page in front, there was an inscription in the hand of the Prophet Joseph Smith dedicating the book to one of the three women mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants. Which woman owned this book? It was a bit of a "time machine" experience to handle the pages and think of where its been. The Head Conservator had just completed its treatments for preservation/restoration.
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