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This 1870s autograph album belonged to Isabel Mason who received it for Christmas 1874. The album is almost full with signatures, some with verses, etc, that date from 1874 to 1877. One of the signers also included a small drawing of a witch on a broomstick. Most of the signers are from (or in?) Taunton, Massachusetts. Isabel or "Bel" seems to have been a student, perhaps at Bristol Academy. She likely spent summers in Walpole, Massachusetts since a number of signers are from Walpole and if a date is included on their page it's in the summer months.
I bought this album at an antique store a mile or two from my house when I was 10 or 11. I ran all the way home - bursting to show my discovery - under the mistaken assumption that I had found Lizzie Borden's autograph. A Lizzie did sign the book but as it turned out her middle initial is not that of the infamous Borden.Filled with the exquisite penmanship of the period. Here is a list of the autographs (the ones I could decipher which is most of them) with their Massachusetts town if noted:H.P. Childs, Taunton; Anna R. Morey; Louis C. Leonard, T.H.S; Grace G. Leonard, T.H.S; Emma F. Young, Chatham; Mary C. Perkins, Taunton; Annie N. Walker, Taunton; E. Louise Black, Taunton; Sarah S. Babbitt, Taunton; H.P. Plimpton, Walpole; Minnie C. Davis; Fannie P. Deane, Taunton; Louise Davenport, Taunton; Ellen F. Leach; Lizzie M. Borden, Taunton; Nancy D. Horton, Taunton; Ella A. Hartshorn, Walpole; Hattie M. Hartshorn; Fanny Morse, Taunton; Thomas D. Plimpton, Walpole; Dora Burt, Taunton; Joseph B. Murphy, Taunton; George C. Wilson; Lulu C. Bowen, North Attleboro; Leoline L. Washburn, Taunton; Jennie L. Hubbard, Taunton; Alice C. Bradford; Georgette F. Craig, Franklin; Isaac Bradford, Taunton; Hattie Robinson, Walpole; Mary L. Hoard, Bristol Academy, Taunton; Hattie M. Wright, Taunton; F. Lillie Trefethen, Taunton; Fanny Morse, Bristol Academy, Taunton; Kittie M. Jones, Taunton; James A. Hartshorn, Walpole; Myra McAllister, Taunton; Marcia E. Billings, Taunton; Emma A. Payson; Leo N. Parsons, Canton; Lilla F. Upton, Worcester; Arthur H. Upton, Walpole; and Carrie L. Leonard, Taunton.
The album measures 8" x 5". It is in fairly rough condition - the spine covering is gone, the first two pages are detached, there is some staining of edges, the cover is quite worn. The cover is attached but barely. A handsome book originally - it has gilt page edges on all three sides as well as gilt and embossed decoration and lettering. Please zoom in on photos. The album will be carefully packaged and shipped in a cardboard box.
