12 issues, monthly, Vol. I, No. 1 (May, 1840) through Vol. I, No. 12, (April, 1841); bound together, as issued, with volume title-page and contents-leaf. [4], 312 pp. 8¼x5¼, period half calf & marbled boards, spine tooled in gilt, morocco lettering pieces, morocco label on front cover lettered in gilt "Orson Pratt" with decorative gilt ruling.

With an ink inscription on the front flyleaf, "Presented to Orson Pratt Jr. by his Father, April 10th, 1856." Orson Pratt (1811-1881), an important figure in Mormon history, was converted to the religion by his brother Parley P. Pratt (1807-1857), and in 1835 both brothers were ordained Apostles. Orson was one of the supporters of Brigham Young following the murder of Joseph Smith. Jr., and was part of the first party to enter Salt Lake Valley in 1847. In the latter years of his career, following service as a missionary and administrator in the United States and Europe, he became the official Church historian. His Brother Parley, editor and publisher of the Millennial Star, had his career cut short, murdered by the jealous husband of a convert in 1857. The present volume comprises the first full year of the Millennial Star, which began as a monthly publication of the Mormon Church during the period of the mission to England by Brigham Young, the Pratt brothers, Taylor Smith, Franklin D. Richards, and other early luminaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The mission returned to the States after about a year, leaving Parley Pratt to continue on as editor of the Star. It later became bi-monthly, then weekly. The presentation inscription in this copy is quite heavily inked, so has bled; nonetheless, a very significant copy, with prime association.