The Book of Common Prayer Together With The Psalter of Psalms of David.

[GERALD R. FORD],.

Item Number: 122598

New York: The Seabury Press, 1953.

The Book of Common Prayer, boldly signed by President Gerald Ford as follows, “I would rather travel thousands of miles in peace than take a single step toward war. Gerald R. Ford.” Octavo, bound in full leather, all edges gilt. In fine condition. The famous phrase “I would rather walk a thousand miles for peace than to have to take a single step for war” was first spoken by President Gerald Ford at an Air Force commissioning ceremony in Arizona on November 14, 1974. It was subsequently used the following week as Ford departed for Japan, becoming the first president to make an official trip to the island nation and marking Ford’s first trip as president. During the trip, President Ford met with Emperor Hirohito and worked to improve trade relations. The now-famous phrase was used during the trip, upon departure from the South Lawn of the White House and at the Japan Press Club. A unique piece.

The Book of Common Prayer was created out of English Reformation leader Thomas Cranmer's desire for a liturgical text that all of Europe's Protestant, English-speaking churches could agree on. The Book of Common Prayer was first issued in 1549 during the reign of Edward VI and revised through the reign of Mary I, James II, and ending significantly in 1832. The original book, published in 1549 in the reign of Edward VI, was the first prayer book to include the complete forms of service for daily and Sunday worship in English. Its magisterial liturgical language is, "as a source of spiritual inspiration for most Englishmen second only to the Bible" (PMM 75).