Scrapbook Filled with c1858-1878 Memories of life and events of the Tower/Egerton Family of Ashbridge

Scrapbook Filled with c1858-1878 Memories of life and events of the Tower Family of Ashbridge. c1850.

4to.(8.5" x 10.5") 164 pp. Full light brown cloth with sun-faded spine. Both upper and lower boards with sun-fading towards the spine, lighter stains, and soiling. Edgewear, corners bumped and rubbed with crease to the lower corner of the rear board. Textblock shaken, gutters starting, mesh visible. Every page is filled with either news clippings, photographs, menus, invites, playbills, manuscript notes, and more. Several manuscripts are bound in, ephemera are laid in throughout the book.

This scrapbook, compiled between 1858-1878, appears to have been from a member of the Tower family of Ashridge. The scrapbook starts with a 4" x 6" photo of H.R.H. The Princess Royal Victoria. Followed by a clipping from news newspapers of "The Marriage of The Princess Royal, Jan.25, 1858 with manuscript notes. The following are two large yellow invites to the State Apartments at St. James Palace signed by Lord Chamberlain, both have embossed royal seals, addressed to Lady Sophia Tower and Miss Tower. One of several programs tipped in is an invitation for "Royal Entertainment. By Command, Her Majesty's Servants will Perform, at Windsor Castle, on Thursday, January 10th, 1856, Mr. Charles Dance's Comic Drama, Entitled A Wonderful Woman... After which, Mr. Oxenford's Farce of Only a Halfpenny" on beautiful lacy-edged paper. One of the "menus" that are tipped in is "The Right Hon. Sir Francis Graham Moon, Bart. Lord Mayor, Mansion House Wednesday, July 11th, 1855" embellished with delft blue roses and gilt decoration framing what appears to be a 7-course meal starting with turtle soup. Another of the photographs tipped in is a 6" x 7" "Photograph taken at Ashridge by Mr. Wells, 1850." identifying "Lady S. Tower, Miss Lucy Tower, and Miss Tower" sitting on the steps of what appears to be the rear facade of Ashridge Manor. One of the several manuscripts tipped in, all in beautiful cursive, is on "Ashridge. Berkhamstead" stationary. Several pages of news-clippings, invitations, manuscript notes and lists are "To Celebrate Earl Brownlow's Coming of Age March 28th 1863", an invitation from "Lt Colonel Cust & Frances Lady Albemarle" is tipped in as well as a large photograph of "Family Group at Belton House on the coming of age of Hon. Wm. Adelbert Aug.19th 1865" followed by a manuscript note of "names of portraits in photograph" and a ms. List of gifts received and from whom. There are several pages of news regarding the Brentwood Volunteer Rifle Corps. Many other news-clippings of weddings, deaths, the "City of Boston" steamship, dress balls, and more. One of the more interesting pieces of ephemera tipped in is a small card (2.5" x 4 ") from the Stereoscopic Co. of "A Pigeon's Letter. A memento of The Great War of 1870-1, when Paris for several months was dependent solely on the carrier pigeons for all information from the outer world. The Times containing several columns of French advertisements &c, to Relatives in Paris. This photograph was sent to M. Gambetta for transmission by Pigeon from Bordeaux. When received in the Bureau at Paris, it is magnified by the aid of a Magic Lantern to an enormous size and thrown upon a screen. A Staff of clerks immediately transcribes the messages and sends them off to the parties indicated". Another manuscript tipped in is to Citizen Lucy from the Cabinet du Ministre de la Guerre in (18)73. Another invitation reads "The Lord Chamberlain is commanded by The Queen to invite Lady Sophia Tower and Miss Edith Tower to a Ball on Wednesday, the 3rd of July, 1872, at 10 o'clock. Buckingham Palace. Full Dress." A truly fascinating look at how Royals live and what interests them regarding reading news and prose.

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