Here we have a rare and desirable small Bennington book flask.  If you think about the purpose of a flask, it’s amazing any of them have survived.  These book flasks were made from 1849 – 1858 in Bennington, Vermont.  The Rockingham spatter glaze is especially attractive and well applied so the yellow ware clay shows through the glaze.  This is very well molded and includes detail such as where the pages are stitched together visible at the top and bottom of the spine and the raised bead around the flask opening.  The flask measures only 5 ¾” in height by 4” long and 2” in width.  Lisa McAllister has photos of several Bennington book flasks in her Collector’s Guide to Yellow Ware Book I on page 104.  These book flasks often have damage to the corners, the base or the flask opening…this flask is in near mint condition with only a chip to the underside of the spine that doesn’t show or detract when upright.