1855 Church Services: The Book of Common Prayer; Proper Lessons to be Read at Morning and Evening Prayer; The New Testament; A New Version of the Psalms of David

Description

Leather Binding, With Slipcase

The Bible of Captain Arthur W. A. Hood, containing four Anglican works printed by Eyre & Spottiswoode in 1855. In a full morocco binding with metal onlay to the front board and a metal clasp, housed in a velvet lined leatherette box, reading 'House of Avalon' to the lid.

The metal onlay of the front board reads 'This Book was used by Captain Arthur W. A. Hood R. N. H.M.S. Acorn China During the War 1856, 1857 and 1858, also in H.M.S. Pylades four years on N. America Station and Gulf of Mexico'.

Consisting of: 'The Book of Common Prayer'; 'Proper Lessons to be Read at Morning and Evening Prayer'; 'The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ', and 'A New Version of the Psalms of David'. Each bound with the original title page.

Arthur W. Acland Hood was in 1885 appointed as the first Naval Lord, advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath, and raised to the peerage as Baron Hood of Avalon, in the County of Somerset, a title that became extinct upon his death.

Loosely inserted in the box are numerous pieces of ephemera relating to the Hood's, including a requiem printed for the Baron's funeral in 1901, an an invitation to the 1919 funeral of Fanny Henriette, Lady Hood of Avalon, the Baron's wife. Also present are two sheets of handwritten prayers, and a November 1922 clipping of The Times newspaper, referring to widespread fog in London.

A lovely personalised Bible with a fascinating naval provenance, being used by Hood during the Battle of Fatshan Creek and Battle of Canton during the Second Opium War.