19th Century Manuscript Album with Herbarium, Original Artwork & Handwritten Poetry | Full Leather Gilt Binding

2026-03-29T18:58:47-04:00

Type: Antiquarian Books
Price: 575.00

A remarkable mid-19th century manuscript album giving insight to the culture of of this period in time, richly compiled with pressed botanicals, original watercolor artwork, pencil sketches, and handwritten poetry throughout. An album which reflects a deeply personal act of collecting and creating—bringing together nature, art, and sentiment in one volume.

The album, sourced from Great Britain, includes delicately preserved botanical specimens alongside carefully beautiful artwork as graphite drawings, hand-painted botanicals artwork and landscapes, and engravings. Included are multiple pages of handwritten verse and inscriptions dated to the early 1850s. Mary Henry Adam started this album in 1852 which includes entries dating to the mid-1860s.

Researching this author:
The album bears the inscription Mary Henry Adam, August 1852, a name that strongly suggests a mid-19th century British—likely Scottish—origin. The structure of the name, with “Henry” functioning as a familial middle name, aligns with common naming conventions among educated middle- and upper-middle-class families of the period, where maternal surnames were often preserved in this way. While no definitive record links this exact individual to a prominent historical figure, the internal evidence of the album—particularly its charades, verses, and numerous inscriptions by different hands—indicates that Mary Henry Adam was part of a literate and socially connected circle, likely a young woman in her teens or early adulthood. Such albums were typically kept within school or social settings, serving as repositories of friendships, visits, and shared amusements. As such, the manuscript offers a rich and authentic glimpse into the social and cultural life of a Victorian-era woman, even in the absence of a fully traceable biographical record.

Bound in full leather with ornate gilt tooling to both boards and spine, the decorative binding is an elegant complement to the contents within. Gilt edges. Binding remains sound; with expected rubbing and wear to extremities. Botanical specimens remain well-preserved Some mounted artwork and inserts present. Some pages unused; total 68 pages used.

Condition: Very Good

Size: 7 1/2” x 9 1/2”

A rare and deeply personal 19th century album—A truly one-of-a-kind survival; ideal for collectors of manuscript material, botanical works, and unique artistic objects.