The Styberg Library invites everyone to view the newest Bible display of three small-sized Bibles from The Yi Family Bible Collection Room. Come view “The World’s Smallest Bible” and a keychain Bible published by the Philippine Bible Society. Of special interest is the Civil War Soldier’s Bible with leather slip case. This pocket-sized New Testament & Psalms published by the American Bible Society in 1851 was carried by Solomon Andrew Shiffer while he served as a Civil War Union soldier. These Bibles were easy for soldiers to carry while traveling and provided them with spiritual comfort during their wartime experience. For these and other reasons, small Bibles made a big impact on those who carried them.
Bibles come in all sizes and formats, each serving its own function. Small Bibles are sometimes called pocket-sized, compact-sized, or personal-sized. Making Bibles in smaller sizes has been necessary to make them more accessible, portable, and useful. While some Bibles are made smaller for reasons of curiosity, preservation, or remembrance; other Bibles are made smaller for practical, spiritual, or evangelistic purposes.
Displayed in this case are three small Bibles the library has in The Yi Family Bible Collection Room:
1) The World’s Smallest Bible,
2) The Keychain Bible, and
3) A Civil War Soldier’s Bible.
The focus of this display will be on the third one, the small Civil War Soldier’s Bible, housed in a leather pouch, published by the American Bible Society (ABS) in 1851. Please refer to the separate informational sheets related to this Bible’s publisher as well as its function in the life of a soldier during Civil War times.
Additional Resources
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