1890s autograph book with drawings and vernacular repairs

A particularly endearing example of the ubiquitous autograph album with a little over 30 pages, mostly written 1890-1891. The book belonged to Miss Olive Pence, or "Ollie," an Ohio girl who was pretty, wore black stockings, has dirty feet, and objected to William Pence's wife leaving him because he played cards on Sunday November 26 (or so one contributor writes).

Technically in awful condition—retaining only the front cover, many leaves loose and lacking order; but all the better for its vernacular repair on a naive attempt at a Spencerian dove flourish, torn and stitched back together in two places. The spine has also been treated (unsuccessfully) to whipstitched reinforcement.

A few other charming entries include a folk art drawing and a children's rhyme (Did you ever, iver, over, / In your leaf, life, loaf, / See the devil, divil, dovel, / Kiss his weefe, wife, wofe?) Another page says, "Anything," in the middle, which seems like the result of an unhelpful answer to the question, "What should I write in your book?"