Civil War Bible, Presented to James Robberts, of 1st Maryland Volunteer Group, 1864

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Translated out of the Original Greek and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. New York: American Bible Society, 1864. 32mo. Rebacked in brown cloth, with original cloth laid down. Interior front board with partially printed presentation certificate, completed in manuscript and affixed, dated March 27, 1864, to James Robberts. Presented with a new archival ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case. 

Presented is an 1864 Civil War New Testament, with an original presentation certificate affixed to the interior front board. The bible’s full title reads: “The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ: Translated out of the Original Greek and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised.” The small bible was published in New York by the American Bible Society. It is presented here rebacked in brown cloth, with the original cloth laid down, and with a new archival ¼ leather and cloth slipcase. 

The affixed yellow presentation certificate is partially printed and completed in manuscript. It reads: “Bible House, Baltimore. March 27th 1864. From the Maryland Bible Society, to James Robberts, Soldier in Comp'y M Reg. 1st Md. Vet Vol'rs." It additionally notes "Should I die on the battle field or in Hospital, for the sake of humanity, acquaint My Friends residing at No. 56 Washington St. Balt[more] of the fact, and where my remains may be found." 

Small-format Old and New Testaments, like this one, were distributed to American soldiers by the American Bible Society during the Civil War. Knowing soldiers would have difficulty carrying about the normal size Bible, the American Bible Society printed pocket-sized Old and New Testaments starting in 1861. During the war, they distributed a total of 760,773 Scriptures to the Union armed services. Some 300,000 Bibles and New Testaments were also distributed throughout the South, though the wartime blockade often hindered distribution in the states that had seceded. At their 1861 annual meeting, President Frelinghuysen of the American Bible Society stated: “While there is much to alarm and afflict us in the political agitations of our country, one thing is our special comfort in the cause of the Bible Society: We are still one, bound together by the bonds of Christian kindness, animated by like hopes, earnest in like purposes and cheered by the same sympathies.”

CONDITION:

Good condition, considering age and past use. 32mo. Archivally rebacked in brown cloth, with original brown cloth laid down. Original gilt title to spine, faded. Interior front board with partially-printed yellow 1864 presentation certificate completed in manuscript and affixed. Inscriptions are still legible, with black ink now faded to a brown. Testament pages are mostly clean, some toning to paper edges and occasional small stains scattered throughout. 

Presented in a new archival ¼ brown leather and cloth clamshell case, with a small gilt cross embossed on the front, and raised bands, gilt titles, and gilt tooling to the spine. 

Book Dimensions: 4 13/16" H x 3 3/16" W x 7/8" D.
Clamshell Dimensions: 5 15/16" H x 4 1/8" W x 1 1/2" D.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.