Germantaun: Leibert unde Gillmeyer, 1785. Full Leather. The original edition of this Swiss Brethren hymnbook was most likely published in Cologne, Rhineland during the 1500's. This is an early reprint of the first U.S. edition (1742) and was printed by Peter Leibert and Michael Billmeyer in Germantown, Pennsylvania. It contains the hymns from the original European editions along with many additions. According to the research of Rudolf Wolkan, many of the early hymns were written by several Anabaptists (the Philipites) during their imprisonment in the dungeon of Passau in Bavaria between 1535 and 1540. The Anabaptists (also known as the Swiss Brethren) later became known as the Mennonites after an internal division in 1693 and most North American Mennonites and Amish are descended from them. The Ausbund is still in use today by the Amish in North America. This book has been expertly rebacked using the original boards and spine. The new leather is visible along the hinges and head of spine. Clasps are no longer intact. Chipping to edge of title page and small loss to last page which does affect several words. Browning and foxing throughout, though the text remains bright. Printed in German Fraktur. 812 pages plus register and 102 pages of "Confessio oder Besantnuss." REL/032808. Very Good