THE GREGORY L. SCHAEFER AMERICAN & BRITISH HYMNODY COLLECTION, 1515-1950 -

The Gregory L. Schaefer American & British Hymnody Collection, one of the largest private collections of its kind in the United States, encompasses both printed and manuscript material relating to virtually all Christian denominations in America, Great Britain, and Europe.

Consisting of over 800 items dating from the Reformation of the 16th century to the mid-20th century, the collection includes major hymnals; psalters; personal and home worship publications; Sunday School music; significant Colonial American and later Revival music publications; pamphlets and sermons on Church music and practice; Native American sacred song collections; rare oblong shape-note tunebooks; and contemporary manuscripts of sacred music collections.

The earliest item is dated 1515 and the latest 1950. Highlights include an original Reformation mass, Messan pa Svensko [Swedish Mass] dated 1557; a King James Bible of 1633 with psalms set to music; and a rare edition of the Bay Psalm Book of 1756.

Each item was acquired for both its rarity and its significant contribution to Protestant and Catholic worship practices as well as for its importance in providing scholarly documentation. The collection thus offers significant potential for research into, and a further appreciation of, the rich heritage of Christian song in Western and American spiritual traditions of life and worship. The material also provides a fascinating history of printing and binding practices through the centuries.

A reference library consisting of approximately 70 volumes on hymnology and biographies of hymnodists is included with the collection.

Condition ranges from good to very good overall; some of the earlier imprints have condition faults consistent with age and rarity.

An inventory of the collection is available upon request consisting of:

1. An Excel file in chronological order by date of publication (in 2 parts)
2. An Excel file in alphabetical order by title (in 2 parts)
3. A Word document with detailed cataloguing of approximately 200 select items
4. Images of select items (scroll down from first image to access all images)
5. A Word document listing approximately 70 titles relating to hymnology and biographies of hymnodists

Please note that the collection is offered for sale en bloc only.