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On offer is the original handwritten book: "THE PRIZE ALBUM" a book belonging to Miss Emma M. Slack of New Orleans, dated March 16, 1856 with entries by her friends, schoolmates and loved ones. Many dozens of entries, lovely calligraphy, this is a true treasure of antebellum times in the old South. She was popular enough to cause a number of people to write affectionate poetry and prose to her in this book. Signatures include - Hattie P. H. W. F. Bailey, Marnie N. Trowbridge, F. Jackson, Myrtilla Florance, Madame Candais, Augustine, W. F. G. Schirmer, Carmen Atocha, Rowena Melovna Lockhart Winter, Clara Wolfe, Helen Schieffelin, Josephine Miller and many more. This seems to be a book of parting, perhaps a school graduation, and of great interest are some New York based album entries. Here are some snippets: May Angels weave for thee, a crown of immortality. Soon dear companion of my play, We part to go a different way. The session and its joys are o're We part perhaps to meet no more. But let our early hope arise To that bright session in the skies. There may I meet- dear frined with you, And never, never bid Adieu. I will not say how dear thou art, How oft my thoughts recur to thee I only ask when we shall depart, That thou will sometimes think of me. A white rose I have placed for thee, In the deep urn of memory. I do not wish that thou mayest be the gayest of the gay, Nor glitter like a butterfly, a being of the day But O! I wish that thou mayest be, a being pure and bright, As the angels that surround God's throne of eternal light; And O! I wish when life is past, and thou from earth are gone, That thou mayest rest in Heaven above, the Christian's happy home. The book has about 100 pages not all but most of them are written on. The entries are dated from 1856 to 1858. There is a somewhat spiritual tone to not only the entries, but also the wreath of flowers in gilt on the front board, and the winged angel also in gilt on the back. Both boards are separated, have wear and the spine covering is mostly gone. It seems that all page edges were gilted. The binding has begun to separate, but most pages in the textblock seem to be holding together. 6" x 7 3/4". F. Seller Inventory # 000921
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