Description

A very nice complete Old Testament and New Testament published by the American Bible Society and dated 1858. Rare to find in a complete Bible, this is a high-grade edition designed for travel use complete with red leather cover and fold over flap with slip and tongue closure. Leather has a wonderful pebble grain finish to it and displays very nice even age patina and only minor wear. Not a big homefront family Bible this is a very nice compact size made for travel and even field use. The type one could imagine a Chaplain carrying on campaign, or a nurse or USCC person using in hospital and camp. (or anyone who regularly travelled with or regularly carried a Bible) Indicated it was presented at one time to Louisa W. Paige by another woman also named Louisa. (There is no date with the pencil inscription. Can’t read the second last name definitively) Pages are gold edged and the flap is also lined in leather. Only creased where it should be with signs of minor rubbing but not cracked or broken which is so often the case with slip/tongue closures. Yellowing and darkening to pages with some foxing and has some moisture staining from exposure, likely from travel. I believe the extra page often found between the cover and frontispiece was torn out at some time but is inconsequential as they were blank. Likewise, this page in the back shows evidence of moisture and some resulting damage at the bottom and top of the spine where moisture  would have crept in. But no signs of excessive dampness such as crinkling of paper – all still nice and flat and smooth. The cover did it’s job with the majority of darkening and staining restricted to the outer pages with the interior text still bright and very readable. Quite sound with great character and luster to the leather. Very nice! (CWPG $140)