1852 Victorian Military Bible — Historic 1853 Presentation
1852 Victorian Military Bible — Historic 1853 Presentation
G. E. Eyre & W. Spottiswoode • London • 1852 • Naval & Military Bible Society Issue
A Remarkable Victorian Military Association
A fascinating survivor from Victorian Britain, this 1852 Bible issued through the Naval & Military Bible Society was printed in London by G. E. Eyre and W. Spottiswoode, Printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.
What makes this particular example especially compelling is its documented presentation history. The opening blank flyleaf bears an original handwritten inscription dated June 5, 1853, recording its presentation to Thomas Moore by his teacher, James Swan, for his conduct and attendance at the Castle Croft Sabbath School.
The inscription provides a rare personal connection to the life of an individual Victorian reader, transforming this from simply an antiquarian Bible into a surviving record of 19th-century religious education and personal history.
Signature Historical Feature
The original 1853 presentation inscription reads:
“To Thomas Moore from his teacher James Swan. for general good conduct and attendance at the Castle croft Sabbath school. June 5th 1853.”
Immediately below the presentation inscription is a beautifully written passage from Psalm 34:8, further preserving the character and purpose of the original presentation.
Highlights
Naval & Military Bible Society Issue:
A period Bible associated with the society established to provide Bibles and religious literature to members of Britain's armed forces and naval personnel.
Royal Printing Imprint:
Printed in London by G. E. Eyre and W. Spottiswoode, identified on the title page as Printers to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.
Documented 1853 Provenance:
The handwritten presentation inscription provides a specific recipient, presenter, occasion, institution, and date—an unusually personal piece of provenance for a Victorian Bible.
Castle Croft Sabbath School:
The inscription records the Bible's connection to a Victorian Sabbath school and its role as a presentation recognizing good conduct and attendance.
Original Victorian Construction:
The original embossed brown leather binding retains both original boards, with the period bookbinder's marks and construction still evident.
Condition
Interior: Remarkably clean and solid for its age. The text block is 100% complete, with no rips or tears to the pages. The leaves display normal light age-related yellow toning but remain free from distracting foxing, moisture staining, or significant discoloration. The pages remain tight and securely bound.
Exterior & Spine: The original embossed leather boards remain attached and retain their period character. The exterior shows substantial honest age and handling wear. The leather on the spine and covers is heavily cracked, with areas of leather chipped and missing. There is also visible separation along portions of the joints, although the covers remain held together by the underlying binding structure.
Hardware & Closures: The original dual vertical leather closure straps are missing. These straps originally extended from the lower board and secured to the upper cover.
Historical Inscriptions: The original handwritten 1853 presentation inscription and accompanying Psalm 34:8 passage remain clearly preserved on the opening flyleaf.
Physical Specifications
Title: The New Testament / Holy Bible
Issue: Naval & Military Bible Society
Publisher: G. E. Eyre & W. Spottiswoode
Location: London, England
Date: 1852 — M.DCCC.LII
Format: contact edition / 24mo
Type: Ruby Type
Binding: Original embossed brown leather
Binder: John West, Bookbinder, 52 Hatton Garden, London
Provenance: Presented to Thomas Moore by James Swan, Castle Croft Sabbath School, June 5, 1853
Curator's Observation
This Bible tells two stories at once.
The first is the story of Victorian British printing and religious publishing, represented by its London imprint, compact Ruby Type format, original embossed leather binding, and association with the Naval & Military Bible Society.
The second—and perhaps more personal—is preserved in ink on the opening flyleaf. On June 5, 1853, James Swan presented this Bible to Thomas Moore in recognition of his conduct and attendance at Castle Croft Sabbath School.
Nearly two centuries later, that brief handwritten record remains with the book. It preserves not only the Bible itself, but a small moment in the life of two people who would otherwise have largely disappeared from the historical record.
While the exterior bears substantial evidence of age and use, the remarkably complete and clean interior, together with the surviving 1853 provenance, makes this an especially interesting example of a working Victorian Bible.
Please select the Inquire button and complete the inquiry form. Be sure to include the Collection Reference shown with this listing so we can quickly identify the item you're interested in.
Collection Reference: AS-1046
Every page has a story. Every story deserves to be preserved.
Preserving History • Inspiring Faith • Connecting Generations.