American scrapbook of Victorian chromolithographic art prints

The creator of this scrapbook of Victorian art prints is unknown but presumed to be American as many of the images were published by H. Hallett & Co. of Portland, Maine; George Stinson & Co. of Portland; or by Knapp Co. Lith. for the Sunday Art Supplement to The New York Recorder. The scrapbook features large chromolithographic prints (and cut-out images from prints) of beautiful women, mothers and children, cherubs, flowers and fruit, animals, American characters, and George and Martha Washington.

The scrapbook cover bears an image of two strolling children by Boston artist D.T. Kendrick framed by an ornate embossed flower and vine border. The volume contains approximately 40 pages, however only 18 pages have images on them. Most of the images are large (circa 10 x 14 inches) chromolithographic art prints with sentimental images of children and mothers; patriotic images of George and Martha Washington; or other illustrations with themes of animals, flowers, "vagrants," or other American characters and scenes. Some of the print images have been cut out and pasted to pages, and there are three cut-out romantic couples of 1890s-era beauties and their beaux, two couples dressed for a fancy dress ball and one couple in outdoor wear.

Titles are missing from several of the prints due to condition or cutting, but several of interest include the following: "Bible Stories" (Hallett, 1880); "Only a Little Brook" depicting a mother with her dying child (George Stinson, 1879); "The Good Night Kiss" (George Stinson, 1879); "Appeal of the Vagrants" [by P. Mazanni, 1895]; and "Way Down in Dixie" after a painting of five African-Americans by Eugene De Compe, which was published by Knapp Co. Lith. for the Sunday Art Supplement in The New York Recorder, April 7, 1895.