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Antique Early 1900s Autograph and Friendship Album – Handwritten Poetry, Messages, and Remembrances
An original antique autograph album containing handwritten personal messages, poetry, signatures, and friendship remembrances dating from the early 20th century.
The album features a decorative cover bearing the word "Autographs" and surviving pages filled with period handwriting in pencil and ink.
Historical Highlights
Visible dated entries include:
January 2, 1901
August 8, 1911 – Camden, West Virginia
Additional handwritten entries spanning multiple years
The entries preserve personal sentiments, affectionate messages, poems, and remembrances written by friends and acquaintances.
One 1911 inscription expresses the writer's good wishes and affection, signed "Lucile."
Other surviving pages contain sentimental verses about friendship, remembrance, and the passage of time, including the message:
"Remember that you have a friend, that will forever last."
A Unique Historical Record
Autograph albums were popular during the late Victorian and Edwardian periods and into the early 20th century.
Friends, classmates, relatives, and acquaintances used these books to exchange poetry, personal messages, signatures, and expressions of affection.
Unlike mass-produced books, each surviving autograph album is unique, preserving the actual handwriting and personal relationships of its contributors.
This example is especially interesting because its dated entries document friendships across multiple years and include identifiable geographic references to West Virginia.
Collector Interest
An appealing original manuscript collectible for:
Antique autograph and friendship album collectors
Edwardian and early 20th-century ephemera enthusiasts
Genealogists and family historians
West Virginia local history researchers
Collectors of handwritten poetry and personal correspondence
Social historians studying American friendship traditions
Condition
The album is heavily worn and fragile, with deteriorated covers, damaged binding, separated sections, aged paper, tears, and losses along some page edges.
Many original handwritten entries survive and remain readable.
The exact number of surviving inscriptions and completeness have not been established.
Offered as an original historical manuscript album in as-found condition.
A touching and historically interesting collection of handwritten memories preserved for more than a century.
