Friendship Album of Mary S. Osgood Kingman (1809-1895) of Cincinnatus, New York
Cincinnatus, New York: 1830-1868. Friendship album of Mary S. Osgood Kingman of Cincinnatus, New York, containing a nice assemblage of entries by friends and family, and some poignant obituaries. Entries and ephemera date from 1830 to approx. 1868. Mary (1809-1895) was the eldest daughter of John and Olive Grosvenor Osgood, originally of Windham County, Connecticut. Contains many entries from friends in Abington, showing strong ties remaining between the family and their home town. Includes newspaper clippings with the obituary of her sister Helen E. Osgood (1816-1840) who died suddenly at the age of 24, as well as Mary's daughter's obituary. Named after her aunt, Helen O. Kingman was born to Mary and her husband George Isbell Kingman in 1844, and died at the age of 22 in 1866-- not much younger than her namesake at her death. Note that Mary has put these two obituaries on the same page together, alongside a brief line mentioning the death of a third sister, Sally T. Osgood who died at the age of 46. There is also an obituary for Dr. Erastus Osgood (1780-1868), the girls' uncle, on a different page, and a family friend Joshua G. Reynolds. Contains a couple nice examples of colored ink calligraphic flourishes. Pressed flowers present but many absent, leaving only offsetting/discoloration behind. Partially filled with manuscript and ephemera (newspaper clippings of personal significance included, a couple illustrated plates). A few dried flowers. A nice snapshot of one woman's life, full of both love and loss. Single vol. (8" by 6.5"), approx. 125 blank pages, about 35 of which have manuscript or ephemera, in original full calf with marbled endpapers. Fair to good. Extremities worn with upper board nearly loose. Toning and some spotting, staining. Text block itself, and gatherings, remain firm. Evidence of pressed flowers, now lacking. At least two leaves sometime excised.
Price: $450.00
Item #24000333