“Kate”, Anniversary scrapbook, British Raj, 1875-88

Item #889

This scrapbook, with bespoke cover, was presented by Robert Gillespie, of Ireland, an officer or civil servant in Ahmedabad, India; to his wife, on the occasion of their seventh anniversary, 1875

It is filled with dozens of stickers, appliqués, die-cuts, short poems, autographs of acquaintances, paintings, albumen photographs, pressed leaves, stamps/seals/stickers of the colonial era, Xmas cards, scenes of old India, pictures of flowers, Christian prayers, royal portraits, original drawings, &c. It is unclear if a blank scrapbook was the gift, or if many of these items were already included at the time of presentation.

Also included, several dozen scenes from the Afghan and Boer campaigns, printed serially - perhaps tobacco cards?

8 5/8” w X 10 3/4” h X 2 1/4” d. 75 leaves/150 pages, numerous blank pages toward the end. Pages are mostly in decent condition with some that have a lot of edge wear. The spine covering is missing and both covers are detached, as are numerous pages in the front and the rear.

An interesting look into colonial-era preoccupations and pastimes, and a portrait of a loving marriage within that context.

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