I did bother to look up Luthera Whitney, who signed this sketchbook, and turns out she went on to become a published writer, with works including (doesn't seem too surprising!) "Old Time Days and Ways," focused on homesteading, published in 1883. I also found a record of her listed as a school teacher in Springfield Vermont in 1870, age 26, so would guess this sketchbook dates to 1860 or so.
While not every sketch here is super exciting, there are a handful I really really love, and all are quite well done. Best is when she incorporates people, and animals, which she invests with lots of life, and which in turn really animate the drawings. I've included photos of all of them, 12 total. They are done in graphite on each page with the backs left blank, and each page separated by tissue of a variety of colors.
11 7/8” x 8 5/8”, very very good condition, with very minor toning or staining, no notable tears, drawings clear and crisp. 12 drawings with blank backs.
