Album amicorum of Marie Pacher

BOOK DESCRIPTION: CHARMING FRIENDSHIP ALBUM MADE FOR AN ARISTOCRATIC WOMAN, WITH MOST ENTRIES BY WOMEN, in German, French, and Italian, illustrated manuscript on paper, Austria and Hungary, 1819-1839 (dated), dimensions 96 x 125 mm., 124 folios on paper, SEVEN WATERCOLORS, ONE PEN-AND-INK DRAWING, FIVE LITHOGRAPHS (four hand-colored), a few dried four-leaf clovers inserted between the leaves. BINDING: original binding of 1819, red morocco over pasteboards, both covers gold-tooled, gilt edges, some wear of leather on the hinges and corners, otherwise in good condition. TEXT AND ILLUSTRATION: The album amicorum, or album of friends, is a booklet in which young aristocrats collected entries made by their friends, relatives, and acquaintances whom they met during travels and studies. This album includes numerous poems offered by friends (mostly women), as well as watercolors, a drawing, and lithographs, signed with dates and current locations. Most album amicorum were made for men. The example described here, in contrast, was made by women for a woman, adding greatly to its interest. PROVENANCE: entries were made in 1819-1839 by the friends and family of Marie Pacher in Vienna (Austria), Mödling (outskirts of Vienna) and Pressbourg (Preßburg, Hungary; today the capital of Slovakia, known by its Slovak name, Bratislava). Published in the "Repertorium Alborum Amicorum"; Königstein: Reiss & Sohn (Königstein/Ts.), Auktion 183: Wertvolle Bücher, Handschriften. Vom Mittelalter bis zur Moderne, 16.-17.5, 2017; private collection. CONDITION: some leaves almost detached from the binding, minor stains, in overall very good condition. Full description and images available [TM 1275] (Inventory #: TM 1275)