1861 CiVIL WAR BIBLE. For Joseph Cook, Mustered August, 1861. With Handwritten Notes!

An unusually nice Bible for a soldier. Most carried only a New Testament and Psalms, slightly smaller than the present, issued to fit in the Union issue pocket. Our soldier was either particularly devout, and thus brought his own full Bible, or was an officer or chaplain, having the liberty to bring something more substantial with him.

The presentation, August 4, 1861, is likely the date he was mustered or departed, as usual for Civil War era Bibles. 

Interestingly, there are pencil notes in the narrow margins of dozens of pages, commenting on the text, offering a brief prayer, or recording a response to the text. These seem to be in the same hand as the pencil inscription on the ffep. 

There are several possible candidates, i.e. Joseph Cook of Rhode Island, mustered 1861; Colonel Joseph Cook, head of the Confederate Army at Galveston, TX; and Joseph Cook of the Indiana Volunteers. Further research may well be able to identify definitively.  

The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments; Translated out of their Original Tongues, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. New York. American Bible Society. 1859. 673pp.

The New Testament; Translated out of their Original Greek, and with the Former Translations Diligently Compared and Revised. New York. American Bible Society. 1859. 221pp.

A good copy, bound in leather, generally solid, with light foxing, some occasional dampstains, and toned throughout. The loop detached on one side and the wallet lap crumpled.