[MAP OF MATRIMONY; AUSTRALIAN NATIVE BIRDS] A late Georgian-era album amicorum belonging to a London lady, with original drawings and poetry dating from 1832 to 1860.

Quarto (245 x 200 mm), original luxurious binding of full leather elaborately embossed, both boards featuring a central cartouche with a depiction of the Roman goddess Luna in her chariot and holding torch, the spine with the word ‘ALBUM’ in gilt at the head; gilt dentelles, all edges gilt, original endpapers; pictorial title leaf engraved in gold and with the owner’s name, address and date calligraphically written by her friend T. Heming as ‘Catharine Robinson, Little Britain, London, Sept. 1st 1832’; the album contains many pencil drawings of a consistently competent standard, among them an Australian kookaburra and magpie (these are the last two entries in the album and are unsigned), as well as a whimsical ‘Map of Matrimony’, beautifully executed in pen-and-ink and watercolour, signed L. Johnson, and much original and non-original poetry in manuscript, mostly signed or initialed, with numerous examples of fine penmanship; in total approx. 40 leaves; occasional spotting, otherwise extremely well preserved.

A most appealing Victorian friendship book. Its owner, Catharine Robinson, was living in Little Britain – a famous street in the City of London – when she commenced the album in 1832. Judging by its expensive binding and the calibre of its content, it is evident that Catharine moved in a well-to-do and well-educated circle of friends.