Manuscript Commonplace Book and Friendship Album — Original Manuscript

£78.50

Manuscript Commonplace Book and Friendship Album — Original Manuscript

Name: Manuscript Commonplace Book and Friendship Album — Original Manuscript
Brand: Broadhursts Books
SKU: 4299
Price: 78.50 GBP
Availability: InStock

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£78.50

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Publication: n.p., n.d. [c. 1840–1860]

Formatting: 12mo, pp. [approx. 100 unnumbered leaves of multi-coloured manuscript and blank paper].

Condition Report: Good. Bound in elaborately blind-embossed black leather with a central starburst motif enclosed by trailing grapevines, the spine lettered in gilt. The binding exhibits moderate rubbing and wear to the extremities, with notable chipping and slight loss to the head and foot of the spine. The corners are bumped and rubbed, exposing the underlying boards slightly, and the joints show some friction, though the boards remain securely attached and the hinges are sound. Internally, the text block is relatively tight, albeit with a little play characteristic of mid-century albums. The multi-coloured pastel paper stock shows minor age-toning, localised fading at the page edges, and scattered light foxing, but remains largely clean and supple. The manuscript entries, executed in various legible nineteenth-century hands, remain dark and distinct, presenting an attractive, unsophisticated example overall.

Catalogue Note: This charming mid-nineteenth-century manuscript commonplace book or friendship album is characteristic of the period's sentimental literary culture. The album opens with an engaging, thematic prefatory poem comparing the "Album's motley leaves" to "Young Joseph's many-colour'd coat" and "the wreath of fragrant flowers." Such albums were an essential social accessory for young Victorian men and women, serving as private repositories for transcribed verse, moral quotes, and original compositions contributed by friends and family.

The binding is a notable example of the deeply embossed, plaque-stamped leather popular from the 1830s to the 1850s, designed specifically to capture the romantic aesthetics of the era. The use of multi-coloured paper stock, featuring pale pinks, blues, greens, and creams, was a luxury feature intended to highlight individual contributions and add visual variety to the manuscript leaves.

Due to their highly personal nature, each manuscript album is entirely unique. While blank albums of the period frequently appear on the market, examples filled with neat, evocative contemporary manuscript entries hold a distinct appeal for collectors of social history and Victorian ephemera.

A beautifully preserved mid-Victorian manuscript album housed in a striking blind-embossed leather binding. Filled with handwritten poetry and prose across multicoloured pastel pages, this unique volume offers a fascinating and intimate glimpse into nineteenth-century social networks and sentimental culture.

Book Condition: Good

Book Authors: N/A

Book Publisher: N/A

Book Language: English

Narrative Type: Maps & Manuscripts

Genre: History

Book edition: First Published

Signed: Yes

Book Pages: 100

Book Publication Year: 1850

Book Publication Date:

Book Binding: Hardcover

Illustrator: N/A

Book Series: N/A

Country/region of manufacture: United Kingdom

Book Dimensions:

Book Condition Guide

We stock thousands of books in a wide range of conditions. To make things clear and to help you know exactly what to expect, Please refer to these condition categories to understand the condition of the book you will receive.

Condition	Description
New	A brand-new, unread and professionally handled book. Carefully preserved from publication to purchase, these books are offered in the best attainable condition. This grade applies to recently published titles that have not entered long-term storage.
As New	The book is in pristine, original condition as if just published. No signs of use or handling. The dust jacket (if present) is equally flawless. This grade applies to any book that has remained untouched in storage for years.
Fine	The book is close to As New. It remains bright and attractive, but could show minor imperfections to the boards and/or dust jacket (if present). Its pages are typically clean and unmarked.
Near Fine	The book has a number of small flaws, i.e. slight rubbing to the edges, or tiny chips or creases to the dust jacket (if present). Its pages may have faint marks, or creases that are barely perceptible — nothing that detracts from their overall condition.
Very Good	The book maintains its structural integrity, and has no major flaws such as tears to its binding or pages. It may, however, show signs of careful use, handling, or storage — small marks and creases, light foxing. Its dust jacket (if present) remains fully intact, but small tears may be present.
Good	A book that remains intact and readable with complete text pages, but shows moderate signs of wear and use to both the book and dust jacket (if present). It may have noticeable creases, nicks, or stains, and the spine likely shows fading, bumping, and rubbing. There could be writing, underlining, and other marks on some pages, though the majority will be clean and tidy.
Fair	A book with significant wear or damage. The text pages will be complete, but there may be heavy underlining, highlighting and staining throughout, and the book’s endpapers, half-title, and copyright pages could be damaged or missing. The binding could be loose, and the dust jacket (if present) may have notable scuffs or tears. These copies are usually of interest for content, signature(s) or scarcity.
Poor	A heavily worn book whose value lies in its complete and legible text. A poor book will have substantial defects — loose joints or hinges, detached covers, loose and/or missing pages, and could be heavily soiled. A poor book is also known as a reading copy, and although compromised, can hold historical or bibliographic significance.