Old Unusual Fan-Shape Victorian Photo Album Metal Decorated Velour Cover & Latch
Description: This is a beautiful antique, Victorian photo album. The album is in the shape of a fan opens up like one. It has a blue velour cover decorated with attached metal having a brassy color and depicting a bird and vine leaves with a round fruit hanging. The album opens along a hinge in the bottom too show cabinet card photos installed in it. Each page is double sides and accommodates two cabinet cards one on each side. The album has 5 double-sided pages and two one-sided pages attached to the covers. It has about 9 old cabinet cards in it which we are selling as part of the lot. The album has a metal locking mechanism and has a metal column on the bottom, which suggest that the album had a stand originally which is no longer with it. The pages have damage and some have tears to the paper which will hold the photos in. The pages are colored with gold gilt along the edges. The back cover is undecorated and has the same blue velour type material as the front. Please carefully review the photos presented as they are part and parcel of our description.
Date: Unknown but most likely late 1800s or early 1900s.
Origin: Purchased at an estate auction in Southeastern Pennsylvania.
Size: Measures ~14" long without the bottom pin, which would add ~2" to the length, and is ~6" at its widest. The piece weighs over two and a half pounds.
Maker: Unknown.
Marks: Unmarked.
Condition: The album is in good condition with the locking mechanism and the decoration on the front intact but show wear from use. The album has a metal column on the bottom, which suggest that the album had a stand originally but that is no longer with it. The pages have damage and some have tears to the paper which will hold the photos, they are soiled & have some minor stains and foxing. The velour cover is intact but loses some of its nap in the form of dust and some of its colors go on your hand when you hold it. The hinge and its decorated metal cover are intact and work properly. The exterior design is intact and beautiful albite the fact that some of the brass colored finish is worn-off. In addition, the edges of the pages have lost some of their gold coloring, but still retain most making the album beautiful. The book may have had a ribbon holding its pages when you open the fan but this ribbon is no longer there and you can see pieces of it in the bottom of the pages. A beautiful piece that is over 100 years old which we are selling AS FOUND at a fraction of its true value. An unusual piece which would make a great addition to your collection. Please see photos for additional condition information.
