Symphonique Calligraphic

Valentine (?), calligraphy, to Mrs. N from Frank H Fretz
Hatboro (Pennsylvania or Indiana?), February 16, (18)60

“In vain to live from age to age / While modern bards endeavor / I write my name upon this page / And gain my point for ever.”

The delicacy of both the sentiment and rendering are endearing, and Mrs. N was lucky to have such an admirer (on Valentine’s Day, or perhaps her birthday?). Enlarge the image in your browser to see the intricacy of the embellishments. Fretz appears in various online search engines in a modest way. 6-3/4” wide x 8-7/8” high

Steamship Packet Drayage.

Steamship Packet Freight Receipts for Ohio River Drayage.

“Steamer Mink No. 2” May 21, 1883, Zanesville and McConnelsville,
“Str. Lizzie Cassel” May 2, 1885, Zanesville, Marietta and Parkersburg
both to R. D. Johnson, who was presumably in the burial business.
Search-engine enquiries on both boat names turn up a raft (ahem) of information.

Probate Inventory

William McCorkle Probate Inventory.
No place, but prob. New England; February 26, 1844.

Personal chattel and property as noted; buyer names and prices realized.
Four leaves, written on both sides.

Tools of the Trade.

Bookbinder Tools — Bone Folders.
Printer Tools — Pica Gauge.
In use everyday around here, these cow-bone tools enforce a razor-sharp edge on folded paper, dustjacket protectors, and myriad other tasks. Conversely, they can help keep a stubborn folded sheet stay open when applied to the fold; pressure permits a minor breaking of paper fibers and, therefore, re-alignment.

For scale, a type gauge shows inches (and picas). It has a right-angle hook on the domed end that grabs the end of a type stick into which handset type is placed.

Bowen Family Diary Trove in 4 Discrete Sets

Father-Daughter-Son-Relative Generational Diaries. Salem, New Jersey
(1) BOWEN, Frank S., 39 volumes comprising diaries, receipt books, inventory lists, pocket journals 1878, 1882, 1886, 1903-04, 1907-28;
(2) with BOWEN, Edna (daughter), one volume for 1917;
(3) with BOWEN, Elizabeth, one volume for 1930;
(4) with BOWEN William (son), one volume for 1899.

Generational diaries are so uncommon as to be almost nonexistent. To have them span the number of years which these do is exceptional. Frank Bowen was first errand boy, then head clerk, in his father’s dry goods store, where everything from window shades to blank books were sold in a general line of inventory. He assumed leadership of the business after his father.

Detailed activities and events predominate in this trades diary. As one example, strongly appealing material throughout, such as this retail mention of diaries, written in a diary:

“Fri., Jan. 1, 1886 / …this is the time for blank books. / Sat.,Jan. 2, 1886 / Diaries like 111 and 211 seem to be desired. This year we have had neither. We have #18 and are sorry for it. Desireable ones are also 131, 231.

“Tues., Jan. 5, 1886 / We have sold at least three diaries to-day, and might have sold another if we had had a long one with a day to a page. Mr. Thos. Wood wanted it, and perhaps papa will try to get some in Phila. to-morrow. Robinson & Hackett have not any. Mr. Job Dixon bought one to-day after inquriing elsewhere.”

Collection comprises 42 volumes and occupies 21 inches of linear shelf space. Heights range from 7” to 4” high; from 2” wide to 5” wide; from 1/4” to 1” thick. Condition ranges from just fair to very good, as is expected with such quotidian materials as these, which were in use and at hand constantly. Many commercial and retail records as well as the life stories of Elizabeth and daughter Edna and son William, growing up. Price, and additional information, via email from peter.pehrson@yahoo.com; this would have a good home with the institutional, or advanced private, collector.

Ledger with customer correction.

(Dryden?) General Store Ledger page with laid-in customer correction.
Springboro, Ohio, 1893 - 1894.
Unusual bookkeeping documentation of error and correction survive in this full day book, docketed Book 7, of this general store. 7-1/4” wide x 11-3/4” high x 3/4” thick. 202 pp., paper over boards, garnet crash spine. Rough with loose leaves and cocked binding. Handwriting in pencil and legible throughout, good detail, local names.

Exuberance.

Brown’s Three Tuns Hotel & Commercial Inn.
New Elvet, Durham, Sept. 9 - 10, 1909.
Being an obsessed manuscript Americana purveyor has led occasionally into the world of printed paper ephemera, and sometimes it’s not even American except by association, but with such an example as this (above), who could discount the enthusiasm? Look at that engraving, typography, and text…”Gigs & Saddle Horses on the shortest notice / Omnibusses to Each Train.” And you can tell this was a quality establishment offering, as they did, “Aerated Water” and “Bath and Fire.”

This is part of a suite of retained English tour memorabilia and personal finance congeries of American Rev. H. S. Huntington of Highland Street in Milton, Mass.