Nineteenth-century British scrapbook of greeting cards

Collection

Identifier: MSS 0093-Item 0031

Staff Only

Scope and Content Note

This nineteenth-century British scrapbook of greeting cards bears a red leather cover embossed with black design and lettering, titled "ALBUM." The scrapbook album features Christmas, New Years, Easter, and Valentine greeting cards with most captioned with the year and name of the friend or relative who sent the card. There are some die-cut color images of flowers, children, and ladies. One series of nine collectible scraps illustrates "Snow White" and each of the scenes bears a narrative caption.

The album, with beveled boards, is in very good condition. The end papers are bright orange, in sharp clash with the subdued red cover. A stationer’s label in the front is from"Clarke Printer & Bookseller, Chelmsford." A few of the greeting cards within are printed by Joseph Mansell, London, and Marcus Ward & Co., an Irish printer and publisher that had established a London office by 1867.

The compiler of this album carefully dated and identified the sender of each card, though most of these are identified as "Aunt Hannah," "Aunt Jane," "Aunt Sarah," or by first name of other friends.

Dates

Creation: 1872-1879

Creator

Creator unidentified (Person)

Language of Materials

Materials entirely in English.

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, http://library.udel.edu/spec/askspec/

Biographical Note

This scrapbook of greeting cards was created by an unknown individual, likely a child. Dated contents indicate that this scrapbook was compiled between 1872 and 1879. Many greeting cards were printed in London and the album includes a stationer’s label from Chelmsford, suggesting this scrapbook was created in England.

Biographical information derived from collection.