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AI Appraisal
Description
Complete title is:
"Het Nieuwe Testament, door Dr. M. Lutherus, uit de oorspronkelijke talen in het Hoogduitsch, en daaruit eertijds door Do. Adolf Visscher, in de Nederduitsche taal getrouwelijke overgezet, doch, op last van de Synode der Evang. Luthersche Kerk in het Koningrijk der Nederlanden, op nieuw herzien en in het licht gegeven."
Contains:
"New testament" 1851,
"Christelijke gezangen" 1854,
"Kerk-Boek" 1854
Published by Johannes Enschedé en Zonen, Haarlem
The state of this book is good to excellent: the cover is only lightly worn in places, condition of the book itself is excellent.
I think the book itself is probably not very special, but the clasp seems to be quite unique: at least I can't find anything that resembles it online! It is finely engraved gold-coloured metal, possibly gold though I am not sure of this. No distinguishing marks are visible on the clasp to date or identify it.
This clasp has a locket, covered by a glass "window", containing braided hair and a bone (?) disc with tiny flowers pasted on it. It looks as if the clasp was made to order and fixed onto the bible-cover to make this into a personal memento-mori (?) object of some kind. Unfortunately no one in my family is old enough anymore to confirm this!
As far as I can judge from internet such hair-ornaments aren't very common in the Netherlands in this periode (it looks more like something Victorian); I do know however that my family has always been well-travelled so perhaps it is not originally Dutch.
The bible has been in the family since at least 20 December 1857, according to a handwritten dedication pasted inside.
I would greatly appreciate it if anyone could give me an idea of what it could be worth, as I am thinking of selling it but don't know what to value it at. Thanks a lot!
Jooske
Category
Books and Manuscripts
Medium
leather, gilt edged paper, metal (gold?), glass, hair
Distinguishing marks
a metal (gold?) and glass clasp containing hair
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
approx 16 cm by 9 cm, 4.5 cm thick
Date Period
clasp unknown, book seems to be from 1854: "New testament" 1851, "Christelijke gezangen" 1854, "Kerk-Boek" 1854
History
Inherited from great-aunt, has been in family since 1857 (according to dedication pasted inside)
eBay Auction Link
Price Paid (If known)
none (inheritance)
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