Antique German Wedding Bible (1939) Preußische Hauptbibelgesellschaft, Berlin
A rare and historically significant German Protestant Family Bible, published by the Preußische Hauptbibelgesellschaft (Prussian Main Bible Society) in Berlin. This Bible was personally dedicated as a wedding Bible for Klaus Geitner and Lieselotte Fest, married on 18 November 1939 in the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Zehlendorf only two months after the outbreak of World War II.
🔹 Historical Context & Significance
Printed by the Prussian Main Bible Society, one of Germanys foremost Protestant publishers.
The handwritten dedication documents the marriage of Klaus Geitner & Lieselotte Fest, with date and church clearly recorded.
Their wedding took place in late 1939, at the very beginning of World War II. Since Germany had already invaded Poland (September 1939) and was mobilizing young men into the Wehrmacht, it is highly probable that Klaus as a groom in his twenties either was already conscripted or would soon be called into military service.
This Bible may have been both a wedding gift and a spiritual anchor for the bride while her husband faced the uncertainties of war.
🔹 Features
Fraktur (Gothic script) the traditional German typeface used until 1941.
Decorative title page with Christian symbols:
Dove representing the Holy Spirit.
Chi-Rho () early Christian monogram of Christ.
Motto: Ich aber und mein Haus wollen dem Herrn dienen (As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord Joshua 24:15).
Embossed black cloth cover with a gilt-printed cross framed in gold decoration.
Official imprint of the Preußische Hauptbibelgesellschaft, Berlin.
Handwritten dedication page with names of the couple, date, and church pastors note.
🔹 Personal Inclusions
This Bible is not only a religious book but a personal relic of a familys story during WWII:
A pressed plant (fern or evergreen twig) is preserved between pages of Genesis 1213 (Abrams journey into Egypt). This story describes stepping into the unknown in faith, which may have carried symbolic meaning for the couple entering marriage amidst global turmoil.
A bookmark card quoting Ecclesiastes 9:10:
Alles, was dir vor handen kommt zu tun, das tue frisch!
(Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might!).
During WWII, such verses were often used to inspire diligence, courage, and perseverance.
These additions suggest the Bible was actively read and cherished, serving as daily encouragement during an uncertain time.
🔹 Condition
Binding: Firm and intact.
Spine: Decorative gilt bands and lettering remain, but with noticeable wear and scuffing. One section of the gilt title has been rubbed away, exposing the cloth underneath (see photos). Minor fraying at top and bottom edges.
Covers: Black cloth boards with gilt-embossed borders and central cross; shows light rubbing consistent with age.
Interior pages: Generally clean and well-preserved with natural toning. Handwritten entries remain fully legible.
Inserts: Pressed plant and devotional bookmark still present rare survival that enhances authenticity.
🔹 Why This Bible Is Special
A wedding Bible tied to named individuals, with exact date and place of marriage documented.
The timing November 1939, at the dawn of World War II strongly connects it to the likelihood of the grooms military service.
The preserved plant and bookmark make this not just a Bible, but a living historical artifact, reflecting how faith sustained families through war and separation.
Honest signs of use (spine wear, gilt fading, page toning) give it authenticity and character.
Ideal for collectors of:
WWII-era artifacts
German Protestant history
Antique Bibles & devotional literature
Personal family heirlooms from wartime Europe
Summary
This 1939 German Protestant Wedding Bible, published in Berlin, is a remarkable blend of personal devotion and world history. Dedicated to Klaus Geitner and Lieselotte Fest upon their marriage in Berlin-Zehlendorf, it reflects both the joy of union and the shadow of looming war.
Its handwritten dedication, wartime date, symbolic pressed plant, devotional bookmark, and visible signs of use make it a unique collectors piece. More than just a book, it is a testament to faith, love, and resilience in one of historys darkest times.
A true one-of-a-kind historical Bible for collectors, historians, or anyone moved by stories of personal faith during global conflict.
