1880's Autograph Book

I've been an avid antique collector since - well, since practically always. I give credit to my mom for starting this "lust for antiques" in me - throughout my growing up, she had several antique stores, and I used to spend time in these stores as a kid. In addition, I accompanied my mom on excursions to antique shows in neighboring states. I reckon it was during these formative years that an appreciation for antiques became instilled in me. I remember collecting tiny silver charms as a 10-or-so-year old, browsing amongst the many booths at the antique fairs. Now that I'm "grown up," I've moved on to collect clothes, jewelry and accessories from the 1920's-40's, various Art Deco "objets d'art," glassware - and anything else I come upon that I think is exceptional.

About two years ago, I was in an antique store in Saugerties, N.Y. (10 miles from Woodstock), and I spotted an Autograph Book from the 1880's. The cover attracted me, and when I carefully opened the book, I was struck by the incredible beauty contained within its pages. Not only were the hand-written "remembrances" in stunning penmanship, but they were also beautiful little sayings from a bygone era. I thought,"This is incredible - I have to have it!" (In the grand scheme of things, it wasn't very expensive.) One of my friends owns an antique store in NYC, and often I show her my finds. When I brought in my newly-found Autograph Book, she said, "I've seen these before. But this one is rare and more valuable, because of the illustrations." Even though I had never seen a book like it before, I knew the one I had found was truly something special.

The books history: In the late 1800's, it wasn't uncommon to have an "Autograph" book which you had your friends and family sign when you graduated from high school or college. (Kinda like the way we have our friends sign our yearbooks.) The original owner of the book I purchased was a woman named Auguste Sticht. She had her friends and family sign individual pages starting in 1879, and ending with the latest entry being in 1914. The "1914" entry also says "Saugerties, N.Y.," which I find to be interesting, because as I said before, Saugerties is the town where I bought the book.

As you will see when you view the pages, the penmanship is incredible - it's a testament to fine handwriting being a lost art in our modern times. Maybe because I've studied calligraphy, I appreciate beautiful handwriting more than usual person. But regardless of that, it is my hope that you, too, will be able to share in their magnificence.