It seems a few of us collect hymnals.

What is the prize pick out of your collection?

Mine is a copy of the Common Service book of the Lutheran Church (the Altar Service book) Authorized by the United Lutheran Church in America (copyright 1919) It was "presented: ad majorem Dei Gloriam and in commemoration of their confirmation on March 29, 1942 by Polly, Shirley, Carolyn and Jerideth."

My prize is my copy of Book of Worship, with hymns, from 1899. I know nothing about the branch of Lutheranism it came from, but it's so little! And old!

I also have a WWII-era copy of the Song and Service Book for Ship and Field, the official chaplain's hymnal, which has Protestant, Catholic, and Jewish sections. And a 1930 Lutheran children's hymnal that was also used at my church, though I'm not sure where and when. And a copy of The Lutheran Hymnal which is about contemporary with the Green Hymnal, but I *think* is some variety of Missouri Synod - can anyone help me out on that?

... I should probably stop spending so much time money ... effort ... at used book sales, but I can't quit until I have one with German in it! Half of the oldest members of my church grew up with a German liturgy.

ETA: Sorry about all this fiddling, touchstones are being weird for me tonight.

Message edited by its author, Dec 7, 2006, 8:58pm.

I've seen several German Lutheran Hymnals at local half price book stores, they are usual kept in one of the locked cases. I've seen them for as little as $25 and as much as $135. Also check abebooks.com they occasionally have a good selection.

I have Den Svenska Psalm Boken published in 1884. It appears to be a Lutheran hymnal in Swedish. Very beautiful embossed leather cover with the pages edged in red. A large section of the pages are cut in the middle horizontally on purpose apparently for ease of flipping back and forth between songs, etc. I found it at a library book sale at a Lutheran college for $1 and it's in fabulous shape. Just wish I could read it.