19th Century Penmanship Practice Notebook with Spencerian Bird Drawing spotted dog The interior of the wooden

The interior of the wooden box is lined in birch bark as well

I've figured out that it is--not surprisingly--known as spike

The wood is darker and richer than details portray

Sits sturdy

and I love how time has softened the the edges and mellowed the original gold paint

19th Century Penmanship Practice Notebook with Spencerian Bird Drawing spotted dog The interior of the woodenReally a beauty! Some penmanship practice books appeal to me for the content of the phrases that are repeated, but some, like this one, appeal for the the lettering itself, and in this case, what become almost pure fields of abstract mark making, as single letters are written over and over and over again. The Eliza Ann who did this one, mid 19th century or so I believe, looks to have been quite a good student, creating an excellent example of