Art Silks (Moody Embroidery Silk Book, with flosses)

Chicago: Art Novelty Co., ca. 1900. Printed wraps, quarto. 8 die-cut leaves designed to hold and dispense embroidery flosses when properly inserted. Interleaved with pink tissue. Labeled "Patent Pending" on cover with wonderful Art Nouveau illustration. With 12 Corticelli and Filo Selle flosses in "Strawberry Shades" housed in the inserts and three loose flosses tucked in front. Near Fine, a beautiful copy and rare item. Advertised in 'Home Needlework Magazine' in 1904: "Best thing ever invented for holding silks. Keeps skeins clean and fresh. No tangling or roughing up. Each thread draws out smoothly/ Saves the silk. No waste. No hook required."