Late Victorian Illustrated National Family Bible with Brass Mounts, Color Plates, and Watson Family Register
Late Victorian Illustrated National Family Bible with Brass Mounts, Color Plates, and Watson Family Register
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Additional Description:
A substantial late Victorian family Bible titled The Illustrated National Family Bible, containing the commentaries of Thomas Scott and Matthew Henry and edited by the Rev. John Eadie, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Biblical Literature to the United Presbyterian Church.
The monumental volume is bound in black embossed leather with gilt lettering and ornamentation, raised decorative framing to the front board, gilt page edges, and elaborate brass corner mounts and clasp fittings accented with red quatrefoil details. The imposing binding was designed for display in a Victorian household and reflects the importance of the family Bible as both a devotional object and a permanent genealogical record.
The interior includes an elaborate chromolithographed title page, color biblical and natural-history plates, engraved illustrations, commentary, explanatory notes, and dedicated family-record sections. Several registers are filled in with births, marriages, children’s names, and deaths relating to the Watson family, with entries spanning from the late 19th century through the 1960s.
The family register begins with Ernest Watson, born September 28, 1878, and Florence Elizabeth, born July 2, 1880. Later entries document members of the Crane and Watson families, including Archie Crane Watson, Ernest Alfred Watson, Olive Maud Watson, Elaine Jean, Denise Ann, and Paul Ernest. These inscriptions add meaningful social and genealogical interest but do not establish the Bible’s original publication date.
Era:
English, late Victorian period, likely circa 1880–1900.
History:
Large illustrated family Bibles became prominent features of middle- and upper-middle-class Victorian homes. Beyond their religious purpose, they served as repositories for family history, with specially illustrated pages provided for recording births, marriages, and deaths.
This edition combines the biblical commentaries traditionally associated with Thomas Scott and Matthew Henry, condensed and edited by Scottish theologian John Eadie. Comparable Cassell editions are generally dated to approximately 1880, although this example’s title page identifies J. Barker & Company of Richmond, Surrey, and does not display a printed publication year.
Provenance:
Formerly belonging to the Watson family, with handwritten genealogical entries documenting several generations from 1878 through the 1960s. Subsequent ownership history is unknown.
Materials:
Embossed leather binding, brass mounts and clasp fittings, gilt page edges, printed paper, chromolithographed plates, engraved illustrations, and handwritten ink inscriptions.
Dimensions:
Please provide the overall height, width, and thickness for the completed listing. Comparable examples are commonly approximately 13 inches high, 10.5–11 inches wide, and more than 4 inches thick.
Condition:
Antique condition with substantial wear consistent with age, weight, and use. The leather shows rubbing, scuffing, surface loss, dryness, and exposed underlying material along the edges and corners. Brass mounts exhibit oxidation, tarnish, scratches, and general wear. The clasp fittings appear incomplete or may not fasten securely and should be described as untested unless confirmed otherwise.
The pages show age toning, scattered foxing, handling marks, occasional creasing, and possible small edge tears. The illustrated tissue guard visible near the frontispiece is heavily creased and torn. Handwritten family entries are present in blue and black ink. Completeness of all text leaves and plates has not been verified. Please review all photographs carefully.
Disclaimers:
The Bible is undated on the photographed title page. The circa 1880–1900 date is based on the publication history, binding style, illustrations, and comparable editions rather than a printed date within this volume. The family dates are genealogical entries and should not be used as proof of publication. No claim is made that every plate, page, clasp component, or supplement is present. Due to its size and age, the binding should be handled and supported carefully when opened.
Additional Description:
A substantial late Victorian family Bible titled The Illustrated National Family Bible, containing the commentaries of Thomas Scott and Matthew Henry and edited by the Rev. John Eadie, D.D., LL.D., Professor of Biblical Literature to the United Presbyterian Church.
The monumental volume is bound in black embossed leather with gilt lettering and ornamentation, raised decorative framing to the front board, gilt page edges, and elaborate brass corner mounts and clasp fittings accented with red quatrefoil details. The imposing binding was designed for display in a Victorian household and reflects the importance of the family Bible as both a devotional object and a permanent genealogical record.
The interior includes an elaborate chromolithographed title page, color biblical and natural-history plates, engraved illustrations, commentary, explanatory notes, and dedicated family-record sections. Several registers are filled in with births, marriages, children’s names, and deaths relating to the Watson family, with entries spanning from the late 19th century through the 1960s.
The family register begins with Ernest Watson, born September 28, 1878, and Florence Elizabeth, born July 2, 1880. Later entries document members of the Crane and Watson families, including Archie Crane Watson, Ernest Alfred Watson, Olive Maud Watson, Elaine Jean, Denise Ann, and Paul Ernest. These inscriptions add meaningful social and genealogical interest but do not establish the Bible’s original publication date.
Era:
English, late Victorian period, likely circa 1880–1900.
History:
Large illustrated family Bibles became prominent features of middle- and upper-middle-class Victorian homes. Beyond their religious purpose, they served as repositories for family history, with specially illustrated pages provided for recording births, marriages, and deaths.
This edition combines the biblical commentaries traditionally associated with Thomas Scott and Matthew Henry, condensed and edited by Scottish theologian John Eadie. Comparable Cassell editions are generally dated to approximately 1880, although this example’s title page identifies J. Barker & Company of Richmond, Surrey, and does not display a printed publication year.
Provenance:
Formerly belonging to the Watson family, with handwritten genealogical entries documenting several generations from 1878 through the 1960s. Subsequent ownership history is unknown.
Materials:
Embossed leather binding, brass mounts and clasp fittings, gilt page edges, printed paper, chromolithographed plates, engraved illustrations, and handwritten ink inscriptions.
Dimensions:
Please provide the overall height, width, and thickness for the completed listing. Comparable examples are commonly approximately 13 inches high, 10.5–11 inches wide, and more than 4 inches thick.
Condition:
Antique condition with substantial wear consistent with age, weight, and use. The leather shows rubbing, scuffing, surface loss, dryness, and exposed underlying material along the edges and corners. Brass mounts exhibit oxidation, tarnish, scratches, and general wear. The clasp fittings appear incomplete or may not fasten securely and should be described as untested unless confirmed otherwise.
The pages show age toning, scattered foxing, handling marks, occasional creasing, and possible small edge tears. The illustrated tissue guard visible near the frontispiece is heavily creased and torn. Handwritten family entries are present in blue and black ink. Completeness of all text leaves and plates has not been verified. Please review all photographs carefully.
Disclaimers:
The Bible is undated on the photographed title page. The circa 1880–1900 date is based on the publication history, binding style, illustrations, and comparable editions rather than a printed date within this volume. The family dates are genealogical entries and should not be used as proof of publication. No claim is made that every plate, page, clasp component, or supplement is present. Due to its size and age, the binding should be handled and supported carefully when opened.