PRESSED PLANTS AND LACE PAPER KEEPSAKES

[Commonplace book; Lang family]: The Middlefield Miscellany; being a Collection of Extracts from various authors & original pieces in prose and verse. ‘Begun 18th February 1843’ [-1850].

This elegantly compiled commonplace book—with contents including poetry, prose, pressed plants, sketches, printed illustrations, and even keepsakes made of lace paper—offers a window onto the collecting habits and leisure activities of a nineteenth-century family. 

Gradually assembled over the course of nearly a decade, this book was apparently a collaborative project by Alexander Lang (whose name appears after the copying of The Prayer Answered, f. [27]) his relatives (e.g. JL, GSL), and perhaps family friends. Indeed, some of the drawings and keepsakes may well have been offered in the vein of a liber amicorum. Much of the poetry has a poignant focus on family life (e.g. On the death of an Infant, A Father’s Sorrow, The Graves of a Household). The latter is ascribed to ‘Mrs Hemans’ (i.e. Felicia Dorothea Hemans, d. 1835), but much of the literary material is unattributed.  The most extensive prose piece tackles a rather different theme, Extracts from the journal of Johnny Newcome during a Voyage from England to China, in the year 1826. Johnny Newcome appears to a generic fictional name, rather than an identifiable person.  

Details

Manuscript on paper (watermark J. Whatman Turkey Mill). One volume, 247 x 160 mms in binding, pp. [208], of which 60 pages have content. A few folios excised after f. [5]. Written in multiple hands, typically no ruling. Title page in red and blue, set within a white oval on blue background. 2 pencil sketches, both of coastal scenes. Various items of ephemera kept in place generally using thin red ribbon or inserted through diagonal slits to paper, comprising: 12 printed images, mostly of young women (one scene in colour); 4 small paintings (mostly of flowers); 2 pieces of pressed foliage; 2 lace paper keepsakes, 1 poem on paper. 

Bound in polished black calf over boards, blind-tooled “arabesque” centrepiece, gold-tooled border, gilt sides and dentelles, marbled edges. Red goatskin label to second spine compartment (MISCELLANY), gold-tooled harps in remaining spine compartments. Marbled pastedowns and endpapers. 

Provenance: pencil note to rear flyleaf (5MMXXIV.A.PK) Condition (textblock): a few folios excised after f. [5], foxing to some pieces of ephemera, occasional items of ephemera apparently lacking, light toning and a few occasional stains. Condition (binding): wear to headcap, corners, and a patch at uppermost spine compartment, otherwise slightly rubbed.