Printed in 1862 by the British and Foreign Bible Society, Oxford, England. Acquired by unknown source and shipped aboard the Minna to the Confederate States of America for distribution; Seized in 1863 by Union soldiers on the USS Circassian, under the command of Captain W. B. Eaton, near Wilmington, North Carolina.[1] Acquired by W. H. Piper & Co Booksellers, Boston, Massachusetts.[2] Acquired by Union Mission School, Lowell, Massachusetts;[3] Gifted in 1870 to Harry Stocks, Lowell, Massachusetts.[4] Acquired by Arthur Stocks.[5] Acquired by Jonathan Byrd’s Rare Books, Goodyear, Arizona;[6] Privately purchased in 2010 by Green Collection, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Donated in 2016 to National Christian Foundation (later The Signatry) under the curatorial care of Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC.
Notes: [1] Bookplate on pastedown states that it was transported from England on the Anglo-Rebel blockade runner Minna that was captured on December 6, 1863, off of Wilmington, North Carolina, by the Union ship Circassian, captained by W. B. Eaton. [2] In a letter from December 12, 1863, Eaton states he ordered the Minna to proceed to Boston. It is unknown how W. H. Piper & Co Booksellers acquired the Bible. [3] Handwritten note on the rear endpapers states that this New Testament was presented to Harry Stocks on Christmas Day for learning the First Psalm. [4] Handwritten note below the presentation note is dated December 26, 1870, and signed “Harry Stocks.” [5] Name “Arthur Stocks” is written in a childlike style on the front pastedown and endpapers. A stamped “a Stocks.” also accompanies the handwritten name. [5] Jonathan Byrd’s bookplate is found in the custom-built book box.