Complete Old and New Testament Bible meas. approx. 4.50 x 6.50 inches and is approx. 2.00 inches thick. Covers and spine are done in light brown leather with a tooled fern and scroll decoration done in black highlights. The spine has 5 raised ribs from binding and “HOLY BIBLE” near top in a fine gold stamping. The corners and edges show light wear while spine seams show a little heavier wear from opening and closing the book.

The inside of both the front and back covers have marbled endpapers that are very clean and bright. The inside back signature is split causing the last blank page to come loose but the back cover is still strongly attached.

The title page shows that the volume was printed by Oxford University Press in England in 1854. A very neat period ink inscription along the top edge of the title page reads “J. PACKARD JR 1858.”

This Bible came with a number of books identified to Joseph Packard Jr. who served in the Rockbridge Artillery of Virginia during the Civil War.

Joseph Packard Jr. was born on April 10, 1842 in Alexandria, Virginia. He graduated from Kenyon College in 1860 with a degree in law.

On July 7, 1861 at Camp Johnston, Virginia he enlisted as a Private in the 1^st Company of the 1^st Virginia Light Artillery also known as The Rockbridge Artillery. The battery served with the Army of Northern Virginia in all of its campaigns. Private Packard rose through the ranks being promoted 6^th Corporal on April 22, 1862, 4^th Corporal on June 3, 1862, 2^nd Corporal on September 9, 1862 but was reduced to Private on November 15, 1862. At some unknown point during his service Packard was made a 2^nd Lieutenant and served as Ordnance Officer on the staff of Lieutenant Colonel Briscoe G. Baldwin. Packard was present at the surrender on April 9, 1865.

After the war he lived in Baltimore and practiced law. He died there on November 24, 1923 and is buried in Greenmount Cemetery.

Whether or not Packard carried this Bible with him in his haversack or baggage is not known but with a pre-war date and a pre-war inscription it is easily possible and very likely.

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