Mid-Nineteenth Century German Scrapbook, Containing Numerous Die-Cuts, Moving Parts, Embroidery, Origami, and Other Ephemera

likely Germany, c. 1850-65. Hardcover. Very Good+. Mottled black cloth over boards; 4to (8x10 inches); approx. pp. 100, heavy cardstock leaves on cloth stubs, rich with ephemera, either tipped direct to the page, or in corner mounts (and therefore removable). Cloth split along joints, with binding just a little bit shaken. Internally bright and clean -- colors pop!

Lavish, varied, and lovely, this rather extraordinary album contains intricate hand-colored engravings and examples of folded printing (18th and 19th century German - think German oragami), die-cuts (mostly botanical motifs, including sprays of flowers, silhouettes of trees), paintings on leaves (floral motif, fruit, Chinese costume), beautiful paintings of birds and flowers, ornately gilt embossed cards, braided human hair, cleverly folded letters (in corner mounts, so you can take them out and marvel), hand-colored engravings (a religious theme, or a landscape or scene), embroidered silk, a menu, hotel cards, and pressed flowers. Well over 100 specimens, all in excellent condition.