"A society of ladies was formed in Boston, in the time of Mr. Whitefield, for improvement in personal piety ... The Society met weekly for prayer, 'reading some sound and serious book,' singing, and other exercises adapted to 'spiritual edification.' ... This edition of the New England primer, is a reprint and fac-simile of one of those owned and used by that society."--Advertisement, p. [3].

Includes poems, hymns, and prayers.

Title page appears on p. [7].

"The earliest information the publisher is yet able to collect, of the origin of the New England primer, is contained in the following extract, from an almanac now in the library of the Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston ... Ira Webster. Boston, August 9th, 1844."--p. [1]. "Hartford, Conn. Published and sold by Ira Webster. 1843. Stereotyped by R.H. Hobbs."--at foot of p. [2]. The latest certificate of the text's authenticity reproduced on p. [4] is dated October 30, 1849. For more information about Ira Webster's facsimile resissues of the New England primer, see George Parker Winship's Notes on a reprint of the New-England primer improved for the year 1777, [1922], p. [9].

"A dialogue between Christ, youth, and the Devil."--p. [75-84].

Rare Book copies 1 and 4 on white paper and 2 and 3 on blue paper; variant certificates. Copy 2 from the library of Philip Sidney Smith, with his bookplate.