A Bible Gun that belonged to Francesco Morosini, could be Fired Without Opening the Book
Have you ever seen a gun that is attached to a book?
This Bible has a chamber for a gun and it was made in Venice for Doge Francesco Morosini in the second part of the 17th century.
Francesco Morosini (February 26, 1619 – January 16, 1694) was the Doge of Venice from 1688 to 1694, during the height of the Great Turkish War.
He was a member of the Morosini family, a prominent Venetian noble family that produced numerous Doges and generals.
While the bible was still unopened, the owner of the bible can pull out the silk bookmark to shoot. The gun book is now on exhibit in Venice’s Museo Correr.
IMAGE: Nicholas Herman
Lorenzo Cittone writes in his book Venise, L’hiver Et L’ete, De Pres Et De Loin, about this incredible gun-book:
“I’ve found in a display case of the Correr museum, in Venice, Morosini’s prayers book that I used to love so much as Apart from a few prayers, this beautiful book features a buttless gun. Of course, the binding is stunning. And it’s difficult to get the gun out once the book is closed.”
