Civilian Bible?

[jgr1974]

I am wondering if anyone would be intersted in seeing a civilian Bible of the period reproduced??? These would be made here in America. The type I am thinking of is of the "wallet" type. Where a flap wraps around the pages for protection. I am wondering if anyone would be intersted?

Thank you for your input,

Jeremy

[cobytreadway]

I would be very interested in something like this. I think it would be awesome.

Thanks.

Coby Treadway

[MosbyCSA1863]

I also would be interested in this.
Thank you,

[MMurphy]

Yes I would love to have this...

[jgr1974]

These are still in the works, I am just trying to see where I stand!

Jeremy

[johnnyreb]

Yup me too

[tompritchett]

Over the years there have been several posts by individuals looking for period correct bibles for use in their impressions. Based on this, I would be willing to state that your product will definitely fill a niche within the hobby.

[tpallas]

About 10 years ago some folks portraying the U.S. Sanitary Commission who used to have these. They were pocket-size, with a patriotic illustration in the interior (which I presume was based off an original, but I have no way to know). You might try seeing if they are still around.

[Richard Schimenti]

I would defintely put my self on the list to order one...

There are several New Testaments that are offered through various sutlers, Milk Creek Mercantile and Fall Creek to name two...

they offer one for the North and one for the South

[KarinTimour]

Dear Sir:

I agree with others that there is a definate niche for this to be reproduced. Just a point on "what is a Bible?" I've sold original Bibles in the past, when I came across some, and a lot of people seem to be confused about these.

When someone says "Bible" to me, I"m thinking of a book that has both Old and New Testaments in it. Others consider a "Bible" to be only the New Testament. There are also differences between a Protestant and Catholic Bible -- so if you find that a Protestant Bible takes off as a produce, please also consider reproducing a Catholic Bible, as that's an additional market.

There are a lot of people who would be interested in a reproduction Bible with both Old and New Testaments in it -- so I say "go for it!"

Sincerely,
Karin Timour
Period Knitting -- Socks, Sleeping Hats, Balaclavas
Atlantic Guard Soldiers' Aid Society
Email: Ktimour@aol.com

[tompritchett]

Just a point on "what is a Bible?

Good point. I had just assumed that by stating "Bible", he was referring to the a complete Bible with both Testaments in the King James version.

P.S. Sending you a PM

[B. Chastain]

I started to look into the possibility of producing one of these some time ago, couldn't find a company that could do it, & did find that it would be very costly. Hope some one gets it done.

[firstmdes]

Jeremy,

I know I would be interested in a period Bible. For years I have been keeping an eye out for a 19th century Catholic Bible to add to my impression...it would also give me something to read during the slower times at LHs! As stated by others posting on this thread, I would be interested in both the New and Old Testaments.


John

[Frank]

Franklin Thompson was a Bible salesman before the war broke out; having a period correct Bible (with both testaments) would be an added bonus to portraying Frank.
When the war started, Frank witnessed a farewell address to a regiment heading out. It says in her book: "....a New Testament presented to each soldier, with the following inscription: Put your trust in God - and keep your powder dry."


~ Tiffany
Psalm 119: 11 & 2 Timothy 2:15

[hendrickms24]

I same here both New and old.

[crowley_greene]

I would be very interested in a reproduction period Bible, OT and NT. For a couple of years I used an authentic 1860's Bible that the Boston Men's Christian Association (different from YMCA?) had presented to a William Dudley. I learned that a William Dudley from Boston had served with a Massachusetts regiment, and I presumed it might have been the same fellow. I tried to locate surviving family members through a genealogy forum to see if they might want it, but when my search was unsuccessful, I donated the Bible to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg.

I would love to find a reproduction.

Murray Therrell

[lt83]

Count me in on the order if it comes to fruition. I would love to have one.

[Lightningslinger]

Jeremy,

Please find out what it will cost to do a facsimile having a good sewn spine in leather or cloth along with gold stamping and I'll see if I can get a competitive price for you.

By all means, do what you can to stay away from perfect-bound hot glued spines as they often break down chemically in but a few years time. The spines of hot melt tomes crack and sections start coming out in your hand. The process will hasten if carried into the field at events.

Walt

[hoosiersojer]

I would definately be interested in a nice period-correct Old and New Testament Bible.


Walt has a good point concerning the hot glued spines, however. I've seen this happen many times, myself and it is very aggrivating when you open up your Bible only to have half of it blow across a field on a rainy,gusty afternoon.:cry:

[hiplainsyank]

A civilian Bible would be very apt for those who portray both northerners and southerners, too. As well as those who brought their Bibles with them.

I would be curious as to what sort of Bibles a Roman Catholic would carry in the 1860s, considering the deutero-canonical books make the Bible a lot thicker. Did they mostly just carry testaments w/ the Psalms, or devotional books, or what?

I'm Lutheran, not Catholic, but it is an intriguing question.

[RMhisteach]

I would love to get my hands on a civilian Bible. I know alot of others that would also be interested please give us updates when the project is in process.

RM

[RedkepiWA]

I was given one for free at an event by a real preacher....potraying a CW preacher. It was Black and hard bound and about the size as a pocket testament. It also was only the New Testament and Psalms. I still have it and think it is wonderful. It has a copy right date (copy of:) 1863 in side.

[jgr1974]

Hello all!!!

I have some good news and bad news! At the moment the Bible project is put on the back burner. I received an estimate from the American Bible society. It is $5,000-$6,000 I have to buy a minimum. This is not a project I can afford at this time. I do hope to pursue the project at a later date when funds are available!

I do have a few other projects in the works though!

Jeremy Richardson aka The Mad Mick!
Trinity Trading Company

[RMhisteach]

HOw many bible would that purchase???????

RM

[jgr1974]

That is just a guestimate. I am trying to work with the Amerrican Bible Society. Minimum purchse of "custom" Bibles is 2,000 price will proobably go a little higher to make the Bible authentic for reenactors.

Jeremy

[RMhisteach]

I am all for it. You may want to shoot an email to Alan Farley at Reenactors Mission for Jesus Christ. He was responsible for reproducing the solider's testements that are out there.

RM

[Army30th]

that the reproduced testaments currently on the market by the Reenactor's Mission or the US Sani Commission, cannot remember which, are not being reproduced anymore. And that the last batch made was indeed the last batch.

I have three of the Confederate testaments and have compared them to the Yankee versions. With the exception of publisher imprint, and color, they are exactly the same.

[Rob Weaver]

In terms of text, there's only one choice available: the Authorized Version, also known as the King James Bible. While the text is copyright free, and inexpensive to print, producing a Bible or testament using 19th century bookbinding techniques is an expensive project. There are 24 Bibles in a case as shipped by ABS and, I think, 100 testaments. Do the math to figure out how many exact books that would give. Unfortunately, the classic "old Bible look" that we associate with old Bibles: floppy leather cover, etc, really only dates from the last quarter of the 19th century. I have an 1867 family Bible that is hardbound and leather covered. It also has a dictionary and several other study tools. I've also got a little testament from 1847 that's leather bound as well. They really did read those big family Bibles in the mid-nineteenth century, so should you find one at a reasonable price at a second hand bookstore, it would serve your civilian purposes nicely (unless the added weight would knock 20 gallons off the milage of your car :D )
If you're looking for a pocket testament, you could always make one fairly easily. Jarnagin's used to make a pocket testament that was simply a Gideon's testament recovered with a leather wrap-around cover with a slotted closure. I've also seen hardbound, clothcovered testaments as late as the 1940s that have a strongly 19th century look about them.