Sunday, April 6, 2014

Antique Miniature Bibles in Norwegian and Danish



My husband found these old, abandoned books on a demo job. He's learned to bring things like this home, rather than letting them be tossed into the dumpster. Of course I've also been surprised with less-than-thrilling objects like the disgusting chartreuse ceramic bedpan, but he's obviously getting much more selective. I have a lovely Italian-made scarf, a cute little WWII era ceramic sailor girl that says 'Japan' on the bottom, and some lovely color plates from an early 20th century suit salesman's catalog (which were being used to line an attic). And  now these.


Psalm Book
Printed in 1901

Using Google Translator, it appears that the one pictured above is written in Norwegian, printed in Bergen, and is a Psalm book, but I bet you figured that out. Surprisingly, the gilded edge and cover are beautiful still, and the calligraphy font inside is definitely not easy to decipher.

Published in Bergen
1901


 Bible in English
1860-?
John E. Potter & Company, Philadelphia

This one isn't quite as soft and pliable, but still in remarkably good condition, considering.  It's about 5 x 3 x 1 1/2 inches. 





Det Nye Testamente Og Salmernes Bog
The Translator said this is Danish,
and this New Testament with Psalms was printed in 1906



 Title Page


And I could actually tell what those foreign words meant
because I memorized the books of the New Testament
a long time ago.
But I'd have to sing it to you, if you wanted me to prove it.



 II Corinthians 4:15-18


Translated into English:

'For all things are for your sakes, that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.'

What a message of hope for those whose trust is in Christ!





I'm not claiming to understand any of the printed word above (except the English), so if you happen to know that I'm wrong regarding the languages in which these antique Bibles are written, I'd be very happy if you made the correction in a comment below.

Thanks!


And have a blessed Lord's Day.



Photobucket



Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of the following: Inspiration Monday and  Mosaic Monday and The Marketplace  and Market Yourself Monday and Make it Pretty Monday and  Making the World Cuter Mondays and You're Gonna Love it Tuesday and Treasure Box Tuesday  and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and  Coastal Charm Tuesday  and What we Accomplished Wednesday and Whatever Goes Wednesday and  Adorned From Above  and Rurality Blog Hop and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and It's a Party at Creative Princess and Artsy Corner Thursday and Good Fences and  Time Travel Thursday and Thrifty Things Friday  and  Weekend Reflections and  Freedom Fridays and From the Farm and   Anything Blue Friday and Junkin' Joe and  Serenity Saturday and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Photo Friday and The Charm of Home and  Share Your Creativity and A Favorite Thing Saturday and Weekly Top Shot and Shadow Shot Sunday and  Sunny Simple Sunday and Sunlit Sunday

35 comments:

Terra said...

I am glad that your hubby and you rescued these Bible treasures. Imagine if they had gone to the city dump! So bless your heart for adopting them.

Grandma Barb's This and That said...

What great treasures! My mother-in-law would have been able to read the one in Norweigan but she is long gone.

podso said...

Wow good on your husband to bring those home. How interesting, Pocket Bibles I guess. Good for pulling out over lunch or break on the job. Interesting two were published the same year. So what are you going to do with them?

eileeninmd said...

What great treasures, glad your hubby brought them home.. It would be awful if they went in the trash.. Thanks for sharing, have a happy week!

MadSnapper said...

this is quite a find and I would like to know who threw them out and why and why there are the different translations. maybe someone died and people cleaned out the house. true treasures

TexWisGirl said...

neat finds! relics from folks past.

Debby@Just Breathe said...

I love them! I L.O.V.E. miniatures so much.....

Amy Burzese said...

What a treasure! Very interesting.

Primitive Stars said...

Hello, that is an incredible find, wow!!!! Blessings Francine.

NanaDiana said...

What wonderful treasures to have saved! I love those little pocket bibles. We were at a wedding not too long ago where the couple gave each person a little white pocket bible.
Hope you are having a wonderful Sunday- xo Diana

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

These are amazing and how wonderful that you got them...someone who will love them and appreciate them. I found 2 old Bibles in an abandoned house years ago and have kept them all these years. They are an odd shape and size. Small but thick. Enjoy your afternoon my friend! Hugs!

Noelle the dreamer said...

Beautiful Judy and Congratulations to your husband for a discerning eye (minus for the bedpan of course!)
Such treasures!
Thankyou foro sharing,

Vee said...

Very cool find! Isn't the www amazing where we can find information at a click?

Debra Hawkins said...

So beautiful. My family came to America from Norway just one generation ago. My mom's first language was Norwegian, which sadly she lost when her American elementary teacher asked my grandma to stop speaking Norwegian at home.

Diane said...

What special finds! Glad they were rescued!

Deb @ Frugal Little Bungalow said...

LOL I remember the bedpan post and started cracking up at that point...so glad that he rescued these treasures! :)

Terri D said...

A wonderful find, indeed!!

I remember the bedpan post, too! LOL

My dad once brought a Bible home from a hunting trip. He found it in an abandoned church, in the woods. He had it rebound and it turned out beautifully. I think my sister has it.

Inspired By June said...

What a wonderful find! The scripture you chose is one of my favorites. "eternal weight of glory" Such a lovely Word to ponder. Have a blessed week!

Lorrie said...

So glad your husband rescued these treasures, small in size, but great in meaning.

bj said...

These are just beautiful...

Suzan said...

By chance, do any of these bibles have the middle section with family births, deaths and marriages? If so, there are several web sites where you can record Family Bible genealogy for someone who may be looking for that family line!!
How can anyone throw out a bible?
Lovely!

Butterfly 8)(8 Bungalow said...

So neat that your spouse rescued them!

Roses, Lace and Brocante said...

You have trained him well Judy!
What a find - I would think these were part of someone's very treasured possessions.
They were probably read at least twice a day and more than likely brought to the table at meal times too!
It's good to see they are now in safe hands where they are appreciated being the Word of God.

Jill Harrison said...

what a treasure! I have some old bibles, prayer and psalm books that belonged to my mother-in-law's grandmother. I am glad I saved them when I helped clean out her house.
Have a wonderful week. I am joining you through Mosaic Monday.

Magali@TheLittleWhiteHouse said...

I love old bibles: their smell, their beautiful fonts and the crisp sound the pages make qhen turned... Discovering foreign languages through them is an added bonus!

SImple and Serene Living said...

What wonderful treasures. xo Laura

laurie said...

Have you seen the book thief yet?


What great movie! It's about a girl in Germany during the war...she rescued a book...your post reminded me of her.She loved books so much..it made me think about how precious books really are.

Glad you rescued them!

RURAL said...

There is so much history in those Bibles...could you imagine the hands that held them over the years. Were there families listed inside? My Grandma would write all of our names in the family Bible when we were born...

Jen

Cheryl in Wisconsin said...

These are little gifts that found their way to you.

Linda @ Life and Linda said...

Wow, what great treasure you have...truly priceless. Blessings, Linda

Pamela Gordon said...

I love old Bibles. I have several here that belonged to family members in the last 2 centuries. Imagine that. Going back to the late 1800's. I had one huge Bible that was my great great grandfather's, a Baptist preacher, dated 1792 I think. I donated it to the archives at the Baptist university I attended so it would be in safe keeping. The letter "S" was "F" or vice versa, in the old English way. Interesting.

Heide at ApronHistory said...

We have one from my Grandpa in Polish. We might also have one in German that we found in his things. He was a great scavenger......

ornate splendor said...

Wow! Such a good treasure! So nice that your husband brought it home to you. My own recent bible find at a flea market was a bible from 1848 - complete with records of family marriages, births, etc. It was so sad that the family did not keep this treasure. Have a blessed week! Catherine (newest follower of all your blogging adventures!) :)

Barbara Jean said...

Love old books,, especially Bibles.
wonderful treasures.

be blessed
Barb

Denise said...

Such a treasure.

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