[MORMON SOURCE BOOK]. SMITH, Ethan (1762-1849). View of the Hebrews; or the Tribes of Israel in America. Poultney, (VT.): Published and printed by Smith & Shute, 1825. 8vo. [2, blank], 285, [1, blank] pp. Approximately 7 x 4". Contemporary full brown tree calf, spine ruled in gilt, red gilt morocco lettering label (boards detached, and secured to book with later tape, boards worn, soiled, scuffed, text toned, soiled, foxed, ffep. nearly detached, rfep. missing upper margin, pp. 137-139 with ink spotting (some loss of visible text on pp. 137/138). Fair. With the bookplate of the Library of Shurtleff College (?Duplicate Sold") on the fp., and the following ownership inscription on the ffep.: ?Rock-Spring Theological Seminary Illinois from Philo Morse Litchfield, Con- ?.THE RARE SECOND EDITION, IMPROVED AND ENLARGED. Chemised in modern slipcase, with the ownership bookplate on inner chemise of ?J. Eastman Hatch". This title, by New England Congregationalist minister Ethan Smith, postulated that Native American tribes were descended from the Twelve Tribes of Israel, and had come to America after the destruction of Jerusalem. Mormon historian B. H. Roberts (1857-1933) believed that this book was available to the prophet Joseph Smith (1804-1844), and may have been read by him, as it had enough similar material to the Book of Mormon (first published five years after this edition). Based on this assumption, this book may be a blueprint of sorts for the Book of Mormon.Measurements: 10 ?L x 7" W x 2"H.