Accession Number

985.013.001.001

Description

One book bound in dark green Moroccan leather. The title "Common Prayer" is incised in upper-case gilded lettering lettering at the top the spine and on the top left section of the cover. Five incised and gilded fleur de lys are equally spaced vertically down the spine. The covers are plain leather. The page edges are gilded. The pages have black text on white paper. Each page is bordered with a single black line.

Narrative

This prayer book is part of a set consisting of this book, a hymnal, and a Moroccan leather case. Its physical qualities and history of use make the set an important part of Craigdarroch's collection.  

History of Use

This set of books was presented to Sarah Byrd Dunsmuir by the Lord Bishop of Columbia (British Columbia) on the occasion of her marriage to Guy Mortimer Audain at Victoria's St. Saviour's Church on October 29, 1901. She used the set in India, where her husband served in the Indian Army, and later, at the Victoria houses Burleith and Ellora.  The set was donated by a person unrelated to the Dunsmuir family in 1985.

The Royal BC Museum, BC Archives holds a wedding day photograph of Sarah Byrd Dunsmuir and her family taken at the family home, Burleith, See: https://search-bcarchives.royalbcmuseum.bc.ca/guy-mortimer-audain-byrdie-dunsmuir-wedding-party-at-burleith-mr-and-mrs-james-dunsmuir-parents-of-bride-seated-at-centre-with-boy-in-between-them-robin-dunsmuir-at-far 

Date

1901

Dimensions

5.9 x 4.5 x 3 cm

Material

Leather; Paper; Metal, gold

Inscription

In pencil on the inside front page:

Byrdie Dunsmuir from the Lord Bishop of Columbia on the occasion of her marriage Oct. 29- 1901

Country of Origin

England