This fine mid-Victorian family Bible, published in 1854 by George E. Eyre & William Spottiswoode, offers far more than its printed sacred text: it stands as a genealogical anchor and a tangible link to a Welsh family’s past. While the binding is modest and the design typical of the era, its true value lies in the contemporary inscriptions and provenance.

The leather-bound volume measures approximately 28 × 22 × 7 cm and weighs 2.82 kg, still retaining its boards in good secure condition though with rubbing to the binding—little wonder after over 170 years of handling.

Within its family register are recorded eleven individuals, spanning birth dates beginning as early as 1776 through to death dates into the 1920s. These relate chiefly to the surnames Smith and Llewellin, centred on the marriage of John Smith and Mary Llewellin of Aberdare in Wales. The register runs across two pages and was penned in three distinct hands—suggesting additions over time, perhaps as children were born and older generations passed.

Additionally, the Bible bears intriguing ephemera: a large pressed leaf remains between the pages, and a piece of black ribbon (likely a mourning token) is present along with a calling card inscribed “Mrs P L Serjeant”. Such personal touches elevate the item from mere printed book to a lived family object.

For the genealogist, the historians of Welsh family studies, or the collector of Victorian ecclesiastical and domestic ephemera, this Bible offers a rare combination of provenance, family data, and material authenticity. The entries for John Smith and Mary Llewellin, along with their children among them - George Llewellin Smith, David Smith and Diana Smith - provide a base upon which further research may build.

Condition-wise: the binding remains fully intact, boards securely attached. Some expected wear is visible (particularly surface wear to the spine and corners) but no major damage is noted. The interior pages remain firmly in place. The presence of original family inscriptions, ephemera and the pressed leaf imbue the volume with character and authenticity.

In short, this is not only a Victorian family Bible (a genre that always carries interest) but a documented family record of a specific Welsh lineage, preserved in its original form, ready for inclusion in a collection, archive or family history project.