1812 Bible, leather bound

Ok, my newest addition to the “Ol’ Book Fam” is this pretty little pocket Bible, red leather-bound, with a publishing date of 1812 in Edinburgh, Scotland.

There is some writing in the book that indicates that a woman (signed as “her affectionate aunt”) gave this book to her niece, “Miss L. M. Bertino” on Jan 4th, 1840, in Kingsbridge (U.K.?). That was already a bit of travel! Then, there is a very lovely, if a bit morbid, poem written with different handwriting - with no signature other than “New York”, followed by an illegible date. On the blank page before the title page, if you look at the top left corner, you can see, in faded pencil, “To Caroline”. Later, someone added a name tag to the front of the book that says “WM FOSTER JR.”.

It appears this Bible immigrated to America at some point after it was gifted in 1840, and ended up in the hands of the Foster family, a couple of estate sales, then to a nice fellow named Dale, and then to me.

Is anyone able to add any info to the stories this book tells? Knowledge of any of the names or places? Anybody else have a copy like this?



My images were not oriented like this on my phone, sorry for the sideways display!!

 

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Come. Fix. Leave. Love it!! Thank you.

 

For the most part, iPhones tend to load images the wrong way....not your fault!!!!! I think most other phones are OK!!!

 

Please tell us who the publisher is - your photo is not quite clear enough for me to read the fine print.

 

Hi, @ActualProof -- I have no information, but the first initial of her name appears to be a C., to me. So, Miss C. M. Bertino. That doesn't really help! I agree with you that Kingsbridge is probably in the U.K., given that the book was published in Scotland. There is also a Kingsbridge that is now part of the Bronx, New York. There's an active historical society devoted to it. That Kingsbridge is apparently one of the older parts of what is now New York City, having existed since the late 17th century.

And welcome to Antiquers!