[Faux Book] Album Collar. Reversible Collar Company, Boston, Mass

Boston, 1870. Blindstamped Cloth. Very Good. A most unusual book-shaped box created to house a collar, with a plush round well within to place the collar. On the spine written in gilt is "Album 15 Collar", while the Album Collar and Reversible Collar Co. are blindstamped onto the front board, along with a gilt image of a collar. The sides are all marbled. The box is a perfect simulacrum of a book from the era. The faux book was made in three color variants -- blue, green, and the red of this example -- with the colors corresponding to different collar sizes. The dimensions are 4.25 by 4 by 2 inches, or 11 by 10.5 by 5 cm. On the inside endpaper is printed a patent history of the company going back to the early nineteenth century, and this item, an improved collar made of combined cotton cloth and paper, was patented in 1870. See Dubanksy, "Blooks", p. 44. There is light black soiling on the red cloth boards and other light wear. An owner's name is written in a light pencil on the top of the FEP label.