Old Bible

G'day,

This is a very very old Bible that my Grandfather (who died about 30 years ago) had, and was handed down to us. He kept it in a cupboard draw and probably never read a word.
On the inside front cover is written: 'The notes in this Bible were put in in the seventies of the last century W.A. Mayers 20-8- 1911

What should I do with it?

Tahmoor girl

 

Inside:

 

EXODUS:

 

I'm afraid family bibles typically don't have much value beyond sentimental or genealogical. The reason is, of course, there are a lot of them out there. Is there someone in your extended family who would value it and ensure it's passed down to the next generation?

Debora

 

What is the nature of the notes from the 1870s?

 

It's not a "family Bible". I don't know how or where my grandparent got it. Neither of them were religious. I just remember it as "the 100 year old Bible in Pop's cupboard ".

 

Ah, then I can see why you wouldn't want to keep it. I hate to say it but... the very best thing to do, if the notes provide family information, would be find a descendent of W.A. Mayers (if he had any) and return it. Of course, that could entail time and effort and not everyone has to spare. (That said you do have an old address to start from.) You could also offer it to a local historical group or genealogical society to see if they had any interest.

Debora

 

Reading through the notes tells me they were written by a clergyman because he studied the entire Bible and the Preface says:

 

The Hebrew word SHILO:

 

Samuel 8:

 

Think this note is about Jonathan. So the notes are all his personal commentary on the text. Someone deep into the study of the Bible might be interested, but the appeal of this volume is going to be very limited.

 

So not family notes then.

Debora

 

No. It's more like the text was translated.
I just asked my father, (who's only interested in the television), where his father got that old Bible. He said that he thinks it was given by a relative. Then I showed it to him and he said "Oh, I remember a small one.". I have a small old one too, but that one was my mothers.

I've been reading the words, and notice that the word 'Jehovah' appears in the notes where it doesn't in the printed text. I'm now going to research when English Bibles were released in the 19th century. Just because the notes were written in the 1870s, doesn't mean this Bible was published in the 1870s.

I'm being careful to keep it in tact, even leaving the little bookmarks in place. It's not in excellent condition, but all the pages are there.

If it was used in a translation, how did it end up in Australia?

 

The text was translated or interpreted? Your volume should be easy to research The company moved their warehouses to different address in those cities in the 2nd half of the 19th century. If you volume doesn't have a publication date, you should be able to get a publication date with a bit of internet research.

Debora

 

Yes the text seems to be a translators work with ancient Hebrew meanings of words mixed in.

 

Your Bible was most probably printed between 1875 and the mid 1880s. The names George Edward Eyre & William Spottiswoode appear as printers from 1875, prior to that date the printers were George Edward Eyre & Andrew Spottiswoode (father of William), William died in 1883. There are a lot of Eyre & Spottiswoode bibles of varying ages currently on Ebay.

 

I agree with the above. Did some quick internet research myself and that was my finding.

Debora

 

THE HOLY BIBLE CONTAINING THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS by Bible - Fourth Edition; First Printing - 1846 - from Rare Book Cellar (SKU: 141628) (biblio.com.au)

 

That's not your edition. Different publisher (American Bible Society, New York) and different binding.

Debora