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19th Century Autograph Album belong to William from Westerly, RI

The covers show some minor edge wear due to rubbing, mainly on the corners and the back strip. The color of the embossing has also been worn off in some places. One of the interior pages has tape repair. Minor soiling due to age. Text block is semi detached from boards.

1880-1898. An autograph album from the later 19th century with a beautiful and unique cover. On cloth boards, the front and back strip is embossed with scrolls and floral designs. It is silver stamped with accents of red and black. The pages are gilded edged and the title page of the album has a wonderfully colored butterfly and fan in pink, purple, and green, along with the text 'Autographs'. The album belonged to a boy named William, often referred to Willie, and the autographs within the album date from 1880 to 1898. The majority of the pages of the album are filled with only autographs, date and location. Most of them are from Westerly, RI, though there is a few from Chicago, IL. The later portion of the album also has some poetry (including an acrostic poem) and a few illustrations.

Some of the more interesting notes are quoted below:

"Remember, I say when you look on these pages,
That writing in albums is like working for wages."

"Live so you will not be afraid to die."

"Watch your thoughts and words and deeds;
If you would reap a good harvest, sow good seeds.
Little by little the coral insect builds up a reef;
Little by little, in God's Book, we fill a leaf.
In noble name and happy heart, may you excel;
Eternally in the "New Jerusalem" may you dwell."

"I am not old enough to write my name in your book, Uncle Willie,
I get my Mother to."

And on the last page of the album:

"Last in your album,
Last in your thought,
Last to be remembered,
First to be forgot."

There are three illustrations in the album. One of the illustrations is a bird in flight carrying the name card of the artist. It was done in ink. Another is again the name card of the artist, but with a tree branch behind it, in ink. The last is one is painted in green, red and pink. It shows several small flowers in various stages of bloom.

Measures 6 1/4" x 4".

To view this album, please click on the following link:
https://goo.gl/photos/FZaDZghaQsKk7NDM6.

Price: $40.00

Item #27010101