[Victorian Souvenir Album] Exquisitely produced Victorian souvenir gift album & scrapbook filled with original paintings, hand-colored illustrations including the Tower of Pisa, a french Republic, 50 Livres Bills, a letter signed by Edourd de Laboulaye, and another by Leopold II, music manuscripts, manuscript and printed poetry, etchings, printed broadsides and lithographs including the glazed lithographic card published by J. T. Wood of the Crystal Palace, tipped-in botanical samples and much more

n.p., 1879. 4to. Original nineteenth century embossed and polished full calf (black), decorative borders, raised gilt bands on spine, gilt inner dentelles, red silk moirÈ endpapers, AEG. 88 leaves (unnumbered), title leaf with gilt embossed border, mounted title engraved card of an explorer holding a flag with the words: "Album." This exquisite and scarce Victorian album contains numerous pen & ink drawings, a hand-painted pencil drawing, three nicely painted watercolors (1 signed), ALS, two large folding broadsides, 2 large folding engravings (1 hand-colored) and more. This album comprises a wide variety of material and mediums, with an emphasis on the French Revolution, the Napoleonic era, and the Third Empire. Just after the title, the compiler has included a nicely executed pen and ink of Napoleon, a splendid miniature painting of Chinese Junks sailing below what appears to be the Porcelain Tower of Nanjing, a hand-painted pencil sketch of a young British officer in red coat with sword signed by William J. Morin, and dated 1847; and an illustration of the Diable Boiteux by Antoine Johannot, from the book by Jules Janin (1840). These are followed by three nicely executed watercolor paintings by Alfred Pascal, the first dated 1847 showing a typical French village based on an engraving by Jean Ouvrier (1725-1784); the second of a Villa set deep in the woods, and the last a beautifully execute winter scene in sepia tones. Of special interest is the included letter signed by Edouard Laboulaye June 30, 1874, thanking a friend for providing a letter of introduction, and urging a visit to VersaillesóLaboulaye (1811-1883) is perhaps best remembered as the originator and early fundraiser for the Statue of Liberty monument, designed by Frederic Bertholdi, and built by Gustave Eiffel. Of note is that the compiler has tipped-in a 50 Livres Bill dated Dec., 792, with Lady Liberty seated. The second letter, according to a note in French pasted on the 2nd leaf, was written by a very young Leopold II of Belgium (1835-1909) to his mother Louise DíOrleans (1812-1850), and that it had been compared to the other examples. Also included are a hand-colored engraving of an Opera costume for Mademoiselle Caroline; 2 large folding broadsides comparing the rise and fall of Napoleon III, with other French historical events; a large folding engraving of the return of Marie-Therese Duchesse díAngouleme to Bordeaux by Villain; a housing receipt for Versailles dated 1814; pieces of musical scores, one composed by Marie Saglioni, dated March 29, 1849; a nicely hand-colored engraving of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and a few laid-in steel engravings. In addition, there are three different printed poems tipped-in, one Souvenir de Roumare, Paris, Plon, 1866 a presentation copy, and two others. The tipped-in botanical samples are all annotated as to place and date of when they were collected, with the first in 1848 from the Grand Jardin, while later samples from the gardens of Maria-Therese in 1878. Minor rubbing to binding with edge wear, inner hinges starting, beautiful and well-preserved example of the finest Albums of the period.