A Scripture Help, designed To Assist In Reading The Bible Profitably

Rev. Edward Bickersteth

Published by Printed for L.B. Seeley by J. Seeley, Buckingham, London, 1820

About this Item

Stated Seventh Edition, 1820 on the title page. This book appears to carry a sad story. On the second of three front end papers (the first end paper is marbled) there is an inscription that reads 'given by ___ Trueman of Hart Hill, to Mary Williams, after the death of dear Josephine Trueman.' Googling Josephine Trueman and Hart Hill brought up a story about a Thomas Trueman: 'Thomas Trueman of Hart Hill (1781-1858) was a banker, merchant, hospital trustee and inspector and philanthropist. Thomas Trueman lived at Hart Hill for over 30 years from around 1822. He was not a local man by birth but moved to Manchester around 1812, possibly from London, with his wife Alicia and their two sons. Between 1813 and 1817 three other children were born in Longsight, Manchester. The first reference to Hart Hill as Thomas's home is in 1823, when his daughter Mary was born. Possibly prompted by the death of his 15 year old daughter, Josephine in 1828, who was interred at St Mary's Eccles, Thomas's name appears amongst the first to donate £5 and to commit to an annual subscription of a guinea to establish a children's hospital, the General Dispensary for Children. He soon became a member of the children's hospital committee. This seems to have been the start of his 30 year commitment as a visitor and inspector of hospitals and asylums in Salford and Manchester. At the top of the Contents page there is a very neat old signature of 'Josephine Trueman, 1820.' As she would have been seven years old in 1820, the handwriting was probably her father's or mother's. So, apparently this was originally a book given in 1820 to the girl who would die tragically eight years later at a very young age. You can see the leather covers in the first few photos. The front and rear covers are in nice condition. One of the bands of the spine is missing the outer layer of its leather. Still, with a magnifying glass I can make out ' Bickersteth Scripture Help', one word on each line. There is a crack at the junctures between both of the covers and their spines. Most of the bindings at both of these junctures are intact so the covers are not detached, but when you look from the side at these junctures you can see through. That being said, all of the pages are very solidly bound (emphasis on 'very' with nicely tight pages throughout. As mentioned, the inside covers and facing end papers are a marbled pattern. They are in good shape. There is a frontispiece with a protective tissue guard. It has eight figures that are identified on the Explanation Of The Plates page. Below that, there is a listing of four fold-out maps. All of the maps are present and in very good condition. The pages in the book are also in very good condition. They are exceptionally clean. There is very close to no foxing at all. I saw very few pages with a spot or two, meaning that almost all of the pages are free of foxing. There's also very little corner creasing. There's only one small loss, a neat clipping at the bottom corner of page 107-108, not near the print. On the pages facing the fold-out maps you'll see the tracing of the edges of the maps. There are no markings in the book. No attachments of any kind. And no writing other than what I earlier described.

Seller Inventory # 004443

Bibliographic Details

• Title: A Scripture Help, designed To Assist In Reading The Bible Profitably
• Publisher: Printed for L.B. Seeley by J. Seeley, Buckingham, London
• Publication Date: 1820
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: Very Good
• Seller catalogs:
  • Christianity
  • Antiquarian
  • Jewish, Judaism, Judaica