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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW New van would help family's future stay bright ... The crayfish invasion ... Mail Tribune 100, Dec. 13, 1915 ... New van would help family's future stay bright ... The crayfish invasion ... Mail Tribune 100, Dec. 13, 1915 ... Inscribed 'Breeches Bible' donated to Grace Christian Comment Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Follow @@teresathomas_MT MailTribune.com Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Follow @@teresathomas_MT Posted Dec. 3, 2015 at 5:01 PM Updated Dec 3, 2015 at 5:33 PM Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Follow @@teresathomas_MT Posted Dec. 3, 2015 at 5:01 PM Updated Dec 3, 2015 at 5:33 PM » Social News When Grace Christian School was given an “old family Bible” from a local man, staff had no idea just how old, rare and valuable the edition was. It wasn’t until library specialist Julie Skelton noticed the inscription on the front inside cover, signed by George Livermore in January 1843, that she realized the historical value of the book and called the donor, Charles Brown, to see whether he would like it back. Brown, who had inherited the Bible, was aware of the its age and wanted the school to keep it so that it could be enjoyed and appreciated rather than boxed away in storage, Skelton said. “His desire was for it to be on display so that the students could look at it and learn about its history,” she said, adding that the Bible most likely will be exhibited in Grace’s library, as well as Cascade Christian High School’s library. “We joked that we need to get a display case similar to the one that the Declaration of Independence is stored in that goes underground at night,” Skelton said. Livermore (1809-1865) was a historian, bibliographer, book collector and classmate of Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. According to the “Memoir of George Livermore” by Charles Deane, “Mr. Livermore’s love of books increased with the increase of his means: indeed, it outran his means, which were yet small. His tastes craved for, and were formed upon, the best models: the authors with whom he communed were of the highest order, not only as regards purity and elevation of sentiment, but elegance of style.” In an entry in his diary, Livermore wrote, “It seems I have about two hundred volumes of good books; once this would have seemed quite a library; now I only begin to see how many books I want. On one thing I am determined — that is, to buy no more trash; what works I do have shall be of good editions. I love literature too well and prize books too highly to have a good author in a mean dress.” This Bible was one of many Livermore had acquired and contains the 1599 Geneva translation of the Bible, a 1636 copy of the “Book of Common Prayer” and a 1634 copy of “The Whole Book of Psalms, collected into English metre” by Thomas Sternhold and John Hopkins. The Geneva translation, Skelton explained, was “significant because, for the very first time, a mechanically printed, mass-produced Bible was made available directly to the general public.” The Geneva translation was the first Bible printed in the easy-to-read Roman style typeface, is known as “the first study Bible” because of verse citations in the margins, and was the translation William Shakespeare cited in his plays. In the inscription, Livermore writes: “This is one of the most remarkable editions of the celebrated version made by the English exiles whilst residing in Geneva. It takes its name from the city in which the translation was made. It is however more commonly called the ‘Breeches Bible’ from the … translation of the seventh verse of the third chapter of Genesis.” The inscription goes on to say that it was “the favorite version of the Puritans in the old and new world” and that “our pilgrim ancestry prized it highly and used this version almost altogether during the early days of the colonies.” Skelton said this particular Bible was published sometime between 1634 and the 1800s, when Livermore acquired it. “I’ve done as much as I can as a layman looking at the details of its history, but there are probably more facts and details in this Bible that would identify its age,” she said. “It’s just so fragile. I’d hate to look through it more.” On eBay, Geneva “Breeches” Bibles sell for between $1,000 and $10,000, depending on the condition, Skelton said. “But anytime anything is autographed, obviously, the value goes up, so I have no idea of the actual monetary worth,” she said. Brown will present the Bible to the school during chapel Friday morning, where Chris White, a pastor at Trail Christian Fellowship, will talk to students about how the Bible has been used throughout history. Reach education reporter Teresa Thomas at 541-776-4497 or [email protected] . Follow her at www.twitter.com/teresathomas_mt . Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Follow @@teresathomas_MT MailTribune.com Teresa Thomas Mail Tribune Follow @@teresathomas_MT Posted Dec. 3, 2015 at 5:01 PM Updated Dec 3, 2015 at 5:33 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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