190 years ago today - Jun 11, 1829

The Book of Mormon's copyright was obtained from the "Office" of Richard R. Lansing of Utica, New York. Richard Ray Lansing ... The particulars of Smith's obtaining the copyright are vague. Perhaps Smith filed the copyright in person shortly after his return to Fayette from Palmyra where he had just concluded his negotiations with Egbert B. Grandin to print the Book of Mormon. Smith's History perhaps too closely associates his Palmyra negotiations with obtaining a copyright: "Mean time our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, Wayne County, N.Y: Secured the Copyright; and agreed with Mr Egbert Grandin to print five thousand Copies for the sum of three thousand dollars." The draft, however, reverses the order and separates the events: "Mean time our translation drawing to a close, we went to Palmyra, and agreed there <<with Mr>> Egbert Grandin to print and publish five thousand <<copies>> for three thousand Dollars, and about this time secured the copy right"

[Book of Mormon Copyright, 11 June 1829, LDS Church Archives, Salt Lake City, Utah., as cited in Dan Vogel, Early Mormon Documents: Book Of Mormon Copyright]

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