A bible with black leather blind stamped cover which has been fixed to a second layer of black leather which is visible on the spine. 'The Holy Bible ' is inlayed in gold gilt at the top of the spine. Inside cover is grey, yellow, pink and cream marbled paper. Handwritten in black ink upside down at the bottom of p.1 "John Brooks, Carmain". Pencil and ink handwriting on p.2 reads "Elizabeth Brooks is my name and Ireland is my nation, Carmain it is my dwelling place and heaven is expectation when." "Elizabeth Brooks". "Andrew Brooks is my name and Ireland is my nation, Auckland is my dwelling place and heaven is my expectation when I die, Andrew Brooks". Glued to following page top proper right are newspaper clippings of death notices for Pitman (Brooks) died 20 June 1932 and Mary Donaldson died August 11 1941. Title page reads "The Holy Bible containing the Old and New Testaments; translated out of the original tongues and with the former translations diligently compared and revised by his majesty's special command". Bible is the King James version. At the end of the old testament, family births and deaths have been handwritten on a blank page. "Carmain October 23 1829 Andrew Brooks born, October 9th 1831 Jane Brooks born, November 6th 1833 Andrew Brooks born died Jan 28th 1881, February 20th 1836 Margaret Brooks born, June 27th 1838 Thomas Kennedy Brooks, Aug 29 1840 John Brooks Born, Mary Brooks born Aug 31 1842, Serra Brooks born February 20 1845 Serra Brooks died on the 29th of November 1868. Carmain March 3rd 1864, March 3rd 1864 Matilda Brooks born, March 15th 1866 Elizabeth Brooks born, July 9th 1868 John Brooks born, July 12th 1870 William Brooks born, October 1st 1872 Kennedy Brooks born. Thomas Brooks born December 28th 1874, Alexander Brooks born 25th January 1878, Thomas Brookses childrens ages." Written on reverse of title page for new testament, "February 28th 1868, February 28th 1868, Jemima Brooks born, September 15th 1869 Andrew Brooks born, September 16th 1871 Annie Brooks born. December 26th 1874 Margaret Brooks born, January 25th 1877 Serra Jane Brooks born, July 19th 1878 John Brooks born, January 6th 1881 Elizabeth Brooks born. Andrew Brooks died on January 28 1883, 9 days illness. Margaret Brooks (nee field) died June 29th 1932. Elizabeth Brooks (Hall) Died Nov 25th 1927, Annie Brooks (Johnston) Died Oct 5th 1928, Andrew Brooks died 18th Dec 1940. Robert Field Pitman, Born July 23rd 1885, Died Oct 2nd 1926. M Brooks 26 Dec 1874". Inside back pages have been written and scribbled on, "To___nac, Thomas please Brooks, Carmain County, Elizabeth Brooks it is my name and Ireland is my nation". A number of items were found amongst the pages /1-/5.
/1 - Stamp. A New Zealand postage stamp celebrating the Kings Silver Jubilee, 1910-1935. Stamp is red with a picture of the King and Queen. Found at the beginning of the new testament.
/2 - Bookmark. A green ribbon 200mm wide. 42mm high cross stitched 'Forget me not x ML' on white machined paper. Found at Ezekiel Chap XXVII.
/3 - Photograph of a man lying in a field under a tree with a picnic. He is wearing a suit and cap. Found at Genesis Chap XXIX, XXX.
/4 - Petal, pressed from a pansy. Brown and fan shaped. Found at Jeremaih chap XLIX,L.
/5 - Leaves, 28 Fern leaves of various sizes and shapes, found through out the bible, Jeremaih chap L.II, Esdras chap VIII,VIII, Luke chap VIII,VIII.