Needle book with real photo cover and printed spine repair
Padded leatherette hardcover, 24mo (5.5 x 3.5 inches) with a photograph laminated to the cover, spine covered with an illustrated strip from a Red Cross "Buy Christmas Seals, Fight Tuberculosis" print campaign. The real photograph portrait of the girl has a touch of hand coloring in the blouse and bow. 4 undyed cloth leaves with pinked edges, 4 total needles. Leaves with printed labels designated Sharps (1 needle), Straw Embroidery Rug Chenille (2), Double Long Darning (0) and Pack Yarn (1). Rear pastedown inscribed in pencil: "Robena McDonald, Sept 26 1898; Kenneth McDonald Feb 11th." The illustration used to reinforce the spine appears ca. 1920. In Good condition, scuffs and spots to boards, heavily rubbed around the edges and reinforced across the front joint with translucent Japanese paper. The interaction of the girl's expression, gazing at the gaping mouth of the singing boy is especially nice (whether or not intentional). A sweet and unusual thing.