CAPTURED BLOCKADE RUNNER BIBLE

CAPTURED BLOCKADE RUNNER BIBLE

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$1,295.00

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Item Code: 2026-488

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This bible, dated 1861 and printed by Oxford University Press for the “British and Foreign Bible Society,” was among the cargo of the blockade runner “Minna,” captured by the USS “Circassian” December 9, 1863. Ironically both ships were British built, the Circassian having been captured in May 1862 and taken into US service that November. Serving as a supply ship for US blockading squadrons, the vessel was nevertheless credited with two captures.

Operated by Fraser, Trenholm & Co., the Minna was a screw steamer built in 1856. Headed for Wilmington, NC, she struck her colors to the Circassian, apparently persuaded by the latter’s 30-pdr. Rifle. On coming aboard the Circassian, the Minna’s Captain unwisely boasted that the ship would sink in six hours, “as he had promised one of the engineers $5,000 if he would sink her.” The Executive Officer and the Engineer of the Circassian, however, crossed back to the Minna and convinced that ship’s Engineer to change his mind, with the help of a Colt revolver presented at his head. The sea cocks were closed and the ship kept afloat. The captured ship and cargo were taken to Fortress Monroe and eventually to Boston, where as early as February 9, 1864, Piper & Co. booksellers of Boston were offering for sale some 14,000 bibles and testaments “from prize steamer Minna,”  “comprising nearly one hundred varieties “at prices to defy competition,” a happy combination of religion and commerce, if you will.

This measures 5-1/4” by 3-1/4, with hard covers and pages edged in red. Both covers are present, but loose, and was cased at some point in a cloth covered box with black label reading in gold, “BLOCKADE BIBLE.” The bible’s inside cover bears the label of Piper & Co. with the details of its capture. The flyleaf bears a brown ink presentation inscription reading: “William C. Hall / from his affectionate Mother, M.J. Hall April 1865.” A pencil inscription below that reads, “at West Haverford” and “Dr. Lyons School,” the latter perhaps in William’s hand. He seems to have kept and used it for some years after. Another pencil inscription below those appears to read: “Wet on the Aegean Aug. 1874 by sea shipped in a gale,” indicating, if we read it right, that he may have taken it on a “Grand Tour.”

We naturally focus on the arms and war materiel brought into the Confederacy, but there was much other material as well. See “The English Connection” for some of this, particularly Chapter 9, “Miscellaneous Imported Material,” and especially page 525 for a discussion of books that includes a photograph of another Minna bible, with the same Piper & Co. label and similar presentation inscription.

This displays very well and would make a great addition to a blockade runner display.  [sr][ph:L]

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