This is a small pocket version of the New Testament printed by the American Bible Society, New York, copyrighted 1862. These were commonly given out by ladies, church and tract groups when soldiers were going off to war. This piece shows the right amount of age and dirt, as you would expect from a soldier’s used book.

 

Inside the front cover in period pencil is ‘W H Whitney/ Co E 18th Regt Vol/ City Point Virginia/ Oct 10th 1864/ Co E 18th NH Vols.’ Also written in pencil inside the rear cover ‘W H Whitney/ D…???..?? VA/ Apr 11th 1865/ When this you all remember me though the deep between us shall friendship unite our souls.’ As a side note Lincoln was shot on the 14th of April 1865, only a few days after this note last note was added. Written in ink inside front, opposite the title page is what looks like ‘Luella M. Farnell.” Maybe the lady who handed this out?

 

William H. Whitney was recorded as being born in Boston ,Mass. and living in Thorton NH. He enlisted in the 18th NH Regiment on Sept 27th 1864. He mustered out of service June 10, 1865.

 

Approximate size is 2 ½ inches wide by ¾ inches thick by 3 ¾ inches tall. This is the type with the wrap-around rear cover. This wrap-around cover appears to have been trimmed off by the soldier. Some of the pages are loose and the binding is also slightly pulling off the covers. This is all easily fixed if required.

 

This is a great NE piece that nearly every soldier would have likely been given. It would look great in a soldier’s private effects display. An honest item.