[MORMONISM]. The Deseret First Book. -- The Deseret Second Book. [In Deseret]. [Salt Lake City, UT]: [Regents of the Deseret University], 1868. 2 volumes, 12mo (185 x 118 mm). Text printed in Deseret language throughout, pictorial title-page, numerous illustrations. Original salmon or brown cloth-backed printed boards (a few minor stains). FIRST EDITIONS of this "new alphabet consisting of thirty-eight characters...[intended to simplify] the English language [and] to invent an entirely new and original set of characters" (The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Historian's Office pamphlet, laid in). Alfred L. Bush notes: "I find [volumes in the Deseret alphabet] a curious and interesting aspect of Brigham Young's empire-building -- which went so far as to include an attempt at an alphabetic reformation" (qtd. in Streeter). Flake 2818; Streeter IV: 2309.