Albany Law School Class Album

New York, 1866. Hardcover. Very Good+. Full morocco, "Autographs" stamped in gilt on upper board; 8vo (130 x 195 mm); contains 138 small albumen photographs (oval, each about 32 mm at the longest diameter) of law students and faculty, mounted to the recto and verso. All are signed by the subject, sometimes also listing his birthplace, religion, and political affiliations, and sometimes including an inscription. The first 3 leaves are signed by the founders of the school, Ira Harris, Amasa J. Parker, and Amos Dean. Contemporary plain paper covering (home-made dust jacket), signed by A. J. Clarke, and with a laid-in letter 1867 addressed to him by John T. Pope and G. M. Thompson, who became lawyers in the city after graduation. The letter lays out what Clarke ought to expect in terms of practicing in NYC (what his expenses might be, where to find a room), and offers a little gossip on some fellow classmates. Worthy of further study -- this album includes students who went on to have distinguished legal careers, and it's interesting to to see where they came from and (occasionally, via the letter) where they wound up. Binding worn and a bit warped (perhaps due to water-damage); home-made dust jacket soiled and torn; slight wave to text block. Contents, however, remain nice and bright.