A beautiful and fascinating piece of 19th-century history! This antique Victorian autograph album features an ornate burgundy cover with gold-tone floral designs, an elaborate blue-and-gold centerpiece, and a charming portrait of a young girl.
Dating to the early 1890s, this album contains 28 pages with handwritten entries and dates beginning in 1892, including personal messages, friendship verses, signatures, and decorative floral illustrations. The inscriptions offer a glimpse into the friendships and everyday lives of people during the Victorian era.
Several entries reference Oregon locations, including Philomath and Fossil, Oregon as well as other towns. The album may be of particular interest to collectors of Oregon history, antique autograph books, Victorian memorabilia, and historical ephemera.
Type: Antique autograph album / friendship journal
Period: 1890s
Dates written inside: Beginning in 1892, with entries from around that period
Written contents: 28 pages with handwritten inscriptions and dates
Dimensions: Approximately 6 7/8" x 8 1/4"
Cover: Burgundy with decorative gold-tone floral ornamentation, a blue-and-gold centerpiece, and a Victorian portrait
Interior: Handwritten friendship messages, verses, signatures, and decorative floral artwork
Historical locations mentioned: Philomath, Shedd, Corvallis, Mayville and Fossil, Oregon to mention a few
The inscriptions include references to Oregon communities and date to the same general period as the early history of Oregon Agricultural College (OAC), which has been re-named and now known as Oregon State University (OSU). Its Oregon references make it an interesting item for collectors of regional history.
Antique condition with age-appropriate wear. The burgundy cover shows noticeable rubbing, scuffing, edge and corner wear, and areas of finish loss. The interior pages exhibit age toning and some spots and marks. The handwritten entries and decorative illustrations remain visible and provide much of the album's historical character.
Please examine all photographs carefully, as they form part of the condition description.
An appealing collectible for enthusiasts of Victorian-era keepsakes, antique autograph albums, genealogy, local Oregon history, and 19th-century handwritten memorabilia.
You will receive the exact album shown in the photographs.
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