I'll never stop loving penmanship practice notebooks, and very early ones certainly most of all--so beautiful, and so revealing of their times, while also never failing to resonate in the present moment. That feels acutely the case with this one, the work of a Rebecca Weiss, who signed her name at the bottom of most every page, and dated them too, January-February 1819. "Learn content" (such a good one!) "Lies bring shame." "Bear no malice." "Honor is the reward of virtue." "He is a rich man who lives within his income." "He that swims in sin with sink in sorrow." "A man may be known by his company." Feels like this would be useful shared with most every member of the present administration--hard to believe the articulation of basic moral values has come to feel like pure political critique, but here we are. And in the face of it, surely there is something heartening in that the fact of the 200+ year endurance of such a notebook as this.
7 5/8" x 6 1/2". Good antique condition, photos do no justice, much more beautiful in hand, ink clear and readable throughout, and especially bold and beautiful on the pages with larger scale writing. Front and back pages (no covers) darkened from toning, but interior pages much less so.
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