(12mo) 7x4¾, original limp morocco gilt-lettered on spine, all edges gilt.

The Bible read from at the funeral of assassinated President, James A. Garfield. A remarkable memento from one of America's great tragedies. Inscribed in the "Record" section: "1881. Sept 26th-Monday noon-used by G.T. Bedell, at President Garfield's funeral--reading passages marked. He stood close to the Catafalque in Park, Cleveland: Ohio. Burial at Lake View Cemetery". Bishop Gregory Thurston Bedell (Ohio) is known to have read at the funeral. The entry is among many on four pages of manuscript notes recording “services held in Private Rooms, Hotels, & Steamers.” There are further inscriptions on the front free endpapers: “G.T. & Julia Bedell / 1st Tuesday on the Algeria / Nov. 8th 1874. / Heavy storm in the Atlantic” in ink opposite an erased version in pencil, “G.T. Bedell / from Julia…” etc. There is additionally an early autograph note laid in repeating the provenance and noting “Book given by Bishop Leonard / June 25, 1928”. This would be William A. Leonard who succeeded Bedell as Bishop of Ohio in 1889. Garfield lingered for nearly three months after being shot by the politically disappointed and deranged lawyer, Charles Guiteau. He died on September 19th (the 18th anniversary of his being made a Major-General) and his body was transported from Washington to Cleveland for burial on the 26th. President Arthur appointed the day for fasting. Seventy-five thousand people marched past the coffin.