This one made me really happy to find, particularly the little notebook, with drawings that are right up my alley, but it feels especially special in the context of the rest of the content of the box. All were the possessions of Nettie Hathaway (1876-1902) of West Mansfield, Ohio, who was a school teacher before her early death at 26 from an unidentified epidemic that swept through their town. Included are a lovely cabinet card of the lovely young Nettie, age 20; a hand-written note from descendent Helen Hathaway describing its provenance; her teaching certification dated 1899; a few pencils and pen nibs and ribbons and bits of ephemera; and, best, this notebook from when she was 8-10, 1884-86, including some wonderful naive graphite and watercolor drawings mixed with some verses written by herself and friends and other little gems (such as a page leaded "Love Must Be" followed by tallies of "turned down" and "missed". !!?? I've documented it pretty comprehensively for posterity, though it is small and my photos not great. All held neatly in the antique wooden lap desk, just as found.
Lap desk: 11 1/2" x 7 7/8" x 4". Notebook 5 1/4" x 2 7/8", 23 pages plus two partial. Some filled front and back, some just front. Photos documents most pages. All in very good condition, as documented.
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