The daguerreian-era "Cherished Memories" album of Miss Rosa Shoemaker, aged 16, of Memphis Tennessee. Presented to Miss Rosa in January 1859 and containing some thirty poems dedicated to her, most dated 1859.   Price: $250.   ( Inventory# ia979 )

This leather-bound album was printed by Leavitt & Allen, NY, it contains six sentimental engravings interleaved between some 60 blank pages of cream, pink, blue and green gilt-edged paper. On the blank pages friends and admirers have inscribed thirty sentimental poems dedicated to Miss Rosa. The poems are signed by Alice Anderson, Corporal Snooks, Charles Carroll, Aunt Betsy, "Amicus", Tilles Long, HRL, EPF, PP, Mary, Mollie C., Sophia, and others. In some cases more than one poem seems to have been left by the same person. Those with dates attached are mainly from 1859 and signed as Nashville Tennessee, although a few are later, the latest date appears to be 1864. In the case of one poem an entire page has been elaborately decorated with flowers in multiple color inks. Another noteworthy poem is dated March 28, 1862 and signed "Yours... Rebel". I do not know which proportion of the poems are original and which are selected quotations, although some of them must be original.

An example of the same period sentiment of "cherished memories" which helped spur the popularity of the daguerreotype. Inside the front cover of the album is a later inscription which gives a portion of family tree for Miss Rosa. Cover and spine in good condition, one of the engravings has damage and much of the album has moderate foxing.

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Last updated April 10, 2024