This is a remarkable 1856 edition of The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments, published in London by British and Foreign Bible Society via the firm Eyre & Spottiswoode (George E. Eyre & William Spottiswoode).

Bound in the mid-Victorian era, this volume measures approximately 28 × 22 × 7 cm and weighs around 2 kg. It bears precious genealogical inscriptions from the Oliver family, with entries for five individuals spanning the years 1818 to 1860, and is specifically associated with the surname Oliver.

This bible occupies a fascinating position at the intersection of religious, printing and family-history interest. The British and Foreign Bible Society was founded in 1804 to widen circulation of the Scriptures, and the London-based firm Eyre & Spottiswoode (with William Spottiswoode later becoming President of the Royal Society) is notable in the history of British printing.

For genealogists and collectors alike the family bible is a particularly valuable category of object. In this case the Oliver family entries provide living links to real people: for example, the names listed (Meeburn Oliver, Edward Oliver, Ann (Oliver), William Oliver) invite further research into local origins, migration and kinship networks. This volume would make a strong focal point for a family-tree or local study, or as part of a display of 19th-century domestic religious culture.

The condition reflects its age and use: the binding, covers, hinges and pages should be examined in the photographs and by request. The size and heft of the item reflect its ambitious format: meant to serve as the central religious book in a household, passed down through generations and written in by members of the family. We invite further information from purchasers or viewers who may find this bible connects to their own Oliver ancestry or local history.

In short - this is more than just an example of Victorian printing: it is a lived object of family memory, religious devotion and genealogical meaning. Whether you are drawn to it for the names inscribed, its provenance, or the quality of its production, it offers a tangible link to the mid-19th-century domestic world.