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A charming and richly illustrated antique autograph and sketch album dating from 1913–1916, containing original watercolours, drawings, poems, verses and personal inscriptions.
The album was presented to Rita with the inscription “With love from Gwen to Rita” and was subsequently filled by friends and acquaintances during the late Edwardian and First World War period. Far more than a conventional autograph book, it provides an evocative personal and social record of the era.
Notable contents include:
• An accomplished architectural watercolour signed “Adina F. Doyle” and dated 1913
• A sailing-vessel watercolour signed C. Young and dated 6 December 1913
• Original landscape, rose and floral watercolours
• A forget-me-not botanical watercolour dated 1915
• Illustrated scroll designs and a humorous architectural drawing
• A 1914 “School Chums” page containing multiple names
• Numerous handwritten poems, quotations, verses and personal messages
• A poem contributed by G. H. Thatcher
• Entries spanning 1913, 1914, 1915 and 1916
The mixture of original artwork, named contributors and personal inscriptions makes this an appealing WWI-era social document as well as a decorative antique album.
• Album type: Autograph and sketch album
• Date range: 1913–1916
• Contents: Original watercolours, drawings, verses and inscriptions
• Language: English
• Presentation inscription: “With love from Gwen to Rita”
• Country of origin: United Kingdom
• Personalised: Yes
Condition:
Fair antique condition. The covers have substantial age-related wear, including scuffs, marks, worn corners and significant wear and loss along the spine and binding. The pages show expected age toning, marks, foxing and edge wear, with some pages sitting loosely within the fragile binding. The original watercolours, drawings, verses and inscriptions remain clear and attractive.
Please study all photographs carefully for the range of contents, measurements and condition, particularly the images showing the spine and binding, as these form an important part of the description.
A fascinating one-of-a-kind survival offering genuine artistic, genealogical and social-history interest. It will be carefully packaged for delivery.
