Sea Mosses From California (Herbarium)
[California]: [c. late 19th-early 20th century].
A lovely sea moss souvenir album with six pressed and mounted specimens from the coast of California. [6] pp. Bound in a commercially produced gilt lettered die-cut booklet with poetical onlay and yellow silk picot ribbon tie. Very Good. Lacking a ribbon fastener, extant ribbon is slightly stained and creased, covers soiled and lightly worn with tarnishing to gilt lettering. First specimen is crumbling but mostly intact. The other specimens are remarkably bright and sound, unusual given the delicate nature of these objects. Souvenir albums of pressed sea mosses or "sea flowers" were sought after keepsakes vended along beach towns and coasts the globe over in the late 19th-century. Though commercially produced, this would have likely been made in small quantities and sold to a fashionable Victorian lady. A delightful token from a bygone era in decent condition.
Price: $750