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Zerelda James Family Bible Jesse James Collection

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This Bible was found in a trunk which belonged to the notorious outlaw Jesse James. The items listed in this auction as well as five antique firearms were found in an around the trunk which was hidden in a barn on Jesse's Uncle's farm near Stamping Grounds, Kentucky. The trunk remained hidden in a dark corner under a deteriorating pile of hay for over 110 years before its discovery in 1998. These items are now up for sale in separate lots.

This Bible belonged to Zerlda Cole-James, Jesse's Mother. It is filled with dates and names concerning schooling, births, deaths, and marriages in the James and Cole families. The first notations were of St. Catherine's school, which she attended as a young girl. It is handwritten in the Bible when Jesse's father died, when Jesse's daughter was born, with location, when Jesse's father's parents died, and when his siblings were born, and more.

Includes the notation, "Jesse killed on this day April 3, 1882 St. Joseph", and underlined is a passage in the Bible on the same page. Most likely in hand on the day of Jesse's funeral, the book of memories was packed away after Jesse's death, and placed in the trunk.

Condition: The binding in this Bible is very loose. Page sections are loose, but there appear to be no sections missing. The cover is in fair condition considering its age, but has been "taped" prior along the outside of the binding in attempt to avoid further binding damage. The handwritings are quite clear, as the book has been kept from sunlight for so long.

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