Photo Album with Sunken Inset Silk Panels with Chromolithographic Images of a Bluebird and Wild Roses (on front), and Just Roses on Back

Full Morocco (excepting silk panel). Near Fine. A gorgeous brown morocco binding with on both the front and back, large silk panel centerpieces, blindstamped gilt ruling surrounding the panels, gilt border detailing inside and raised bands. N.d., circa 1890. (There is an inscription dated 1890, Belfast, written in German, on the FEP.) Folio, 37 by 31 cm, and 8.5 cm thick. With 30 thick card leaves with photo or carte de visite slots, one to four, on the rectos and versos. Most of the slots are filled with photos from the 1870s to 1890s, some from Switzerland, others, from Ireland, and all are portraits. While we might assume all the people portrayed are related, and some of the people clearly appear multiple times, this would have been a large family, as was commonplace back then, with looks running all over the gamut. One commonality is the severity of expression, but that was also a norm for posing back then. The album is very heavy, weighing over 12 pounds. A few minor abrasions to the leather, and other light wear. Still a magnificant binding. (Inventory #: 004640)