The Holy Bible, 1855 Maritime Edition, Sealand Mission, Cunard Line Connection

THE HOLY BIBLE,

Containing the Old and New Testaments: Translated out of the original tongues; and with the former translations diligently compared and revised, by His Majesty's Special Command. 

Cambridge: Printed at the University Press, Sold by G. Seeley, Hanover Street, London. M.DCCC.LV. (1855).

"British And North American Royal Mail Steam Packets" blindstamped on both front and rear boards. Matching information also embossed stamped onto title page.

In 1839, Samuel Cunard was awarded the first British transatlantic steamship mail contract to carry mail to North America. The next year he formed the British and North American Royal Mail Steam-Packet Company in Glasgow with shipowner Sir George Burns together with Robert Napier, the famous Scottish steamship engine designer and builder, to operate the line's four pioneer paddle steamers on the Liverpool–Halifax–Boston route. For most of the next 30 years, Cunard held the Blue Riband for the fastest Atlantic voyage. However, in the 1870s Cunard fell behind its rivals, the White Star Line and the Inman Line. To meet this competition, in 1879 the firm was reorganised as the Cunard Steamship Company Ltd, to raise capital. More recently in 1998, the cruise line conglomerate Carnival Corporation acquired 62% of Cunard for US$425 million. Coincidently, it was the same percentage that Cunard owned in Cunard-White Star Line and the company historian later stated the acquisition was in-part due to the success of James Cameron’s blockbuster 1997 film, Titanic. The White Star Line flag is raised on all current Cunard ships and the Nomadic every 15 April in memory of the Titanic disaster. 

A pencil inscription on rear pastedown reads "Sealand Mission." Mid‑19th‑century shipping lines often supplied Bibles for Shipboard libraries for passengers and crew, Cabin furnishings on long Atlantic crossings, and moral and religious provision, common in Victorian maritime culture. Sealand is a village and community in Flintshire, north-east Wales. It sits around 16 miles away from Liverpool Docks, the departure location for the British and North American Royal Mail Steam Packet ships. Its possible a missionary from Sealand parish owned this edition, joining the crew to provide religious services and promote their faith.

CONDITION:

Please view all listing photographs for the best understanding of condition. There are clear signs of age, use and wear. Black leather hard cover shelf worn, multiple patches of wear, surface discolouration. Boards corners bumped and rubbed through to base board. Blind stamped 'British And North American Royal Mail Steam Packets' on both boards. Gilt lines around boards edges rubbed and dulled. Gilt Holy Bible title on spine, 5 raised bands, gilt lined between bands compartments. Hinges/joints holding well, joints have surface rubbing but no splitting. Head and foot of spine have some chipped loss, around half of the head edge lacking. Gilt page edges dulled and scratched. End papers and paste downs yellowed, front paste down stained at bottom edge. Gilt roll pattern along outer edges of inside covers, worn and dulled in parts. Rear paste down has an upside down pencil scribble 'Sealand Mission'. Text block age toned/yellowed throughout. Mild foxing in parts. Corner folds, creasing, light soiling in parts. A few pages have small tears with slight loss at top margin corner, some small amount of text loss but not hugely. Binding firm, no loose pages, a front blank end paper appears removed with torn remnants visible in gutter. 

The book measures 9.5cm x 15cm, 4cm thick. 

Overall the book remains in acceptable reading condition. Clearly well used, significant signs of wear, perhaps serving its owner well over multiple voyages at sea. An extremely scarce find!

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