(SKETCHBOOK.) [Lawson, Maria]. Fine Victorian-era portrait album. 40 handsome profile portraits of men and women drawn in graphite, most dated at lower right; approximately 4¼x3¾ inches each on heavier stock cornered into leaves of "Whatman" watermarked chain-lined paper, sitter names captioned in pencil on mounts. 12mo format notebook, 6½x4inches, lightly worn plain black calf; one plate stained otherwise generally clean. – England, 1852-53

A charming visual register of a mid-19th century English family. Surnames include Black, Lawson, Wybergh, Graham, Musgrave, Waddlove, and How; a few portraits are identified by name and profession, relating their service to the families, such as Old Bill Emmerson the Stable Man. The chatter of Brontë is almost palpable.