A very lovely example of a friendship album 1820s style, belonging to a Miss Mary Ann Perham (1801-1887) of Chelmsford, MA, and later Lowell, MA. A handful of blank pages but more full than not, with some 40 full page entries, most often verses relating to friendship in one way or another. I love it especially for the inclusion of some very fine watercolor headers, and for the excellent diversity of penmanship styles represented, characteristic of times prior to the Spencerian standardization that would come a few decades later. (Some very fine and very tiny lettering here!)
The eldest of four children, Mary Ann Perham's parents were Jonathan Perham and Mary Parker; her father a descendent of John Perham (1633-1721), who settled in the area during the Colonial period. During the 1700s, the Perham family worked primarily as farmers, millers, and local tradespeople in the agrarian communities of Middlesex County. As land in Chelmsford became more densely settled through the 18th century, younger generations of Perhams migrated northward into newer townships such as Tyngsborough, Dunstable, Littleton, and eventually into southern New Hampshire and Maine. Lots more to dig into there...as well as into the families of those who signed their names in this album, including Adams, Richardson, Whiting, etc.
I have not been at all exhaustive in documenting this one, but have photographed the pages that (in addition the beautiful cover, with deep red painted square with gilded lettering over the marbled paper) feature watercolors, including the final page in the album with a watercolored weeping willow, animating a memorial poem written by Mary Ann in memory of Mary C. [Mary Chamberlain Fletcher] Pulsifer.
7 13/16" x 4 15/16". 37 leafs used, mix of front and back. Overall very good condition, ink strong throughout, and watercolors super strong and just gorgeous. Readable throughout with some effort due to the challenges of deciphering 1820s penmanship! Scattered toning, as one would expect.
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