The decades 1860 until 1890 were an exciting period for Victorian graphics. With the advent of the Industrial Revolution and the invention of chromolithography the popular market became flooded with meticulously drawn colorful images published by Louis Prang (L. Prang and company).
Scrap booking was hobby started in 1860 as the narrative of the Victorian era was closely linked to the illustrations on these cards. Prangs images of children, wild flowers, animals and birds spoke of the era's love for traditional values. Collecting these printed bits and cards became a popular pastime. The term "scraps" used by the collectors of these colorful printed treasures engendered the term "scrapbook."
When a fellow professor wandered into my bookmaking class at Moore College of Art and Design he was amazed at how my love of these old postcards had me practically wetting my pants during my lecture on the development of lithography. Prang was a master printer and producer of the holiday cards I had collected (and shown) over my many years as a graphic designer and I think I had my students on board with their beauty.
The following week he presented me a scrapbook that he found in his grandmother's garage.
It was indeed an authentic book dating back to Abraham Lincoln's time!
I was further amazed at the article pasted on one of the pages in the book.
It contained a newspaper article on John Wilkes Booth dating the day after president Lincoln was assassinated.
In honor of today's date in history-the passing of the great president Abraham Lincoln-I have the scan of that scrapbook page posted here.
A thrill to a history buff like myself and I hope to fellow retro art and history buffs out there!
Below is a letter from the Smithsonian Archives and a link to the full account of the event-
"[April] 15th. We were awakened this morning by an announcement which almost made our hearts stand still with consternation. The President was shot last night in the Theater. When the morning paper was issued he was still alive although little or no hopes were entertained of his recovery but now the tolling bells tell us he has ceased to breathe. He is dead. Mr. De Bust has just told Hannah he died at ½ 7 o'clock. Deeply must the country mourn this death for although uncouth & ungainly he was true hearted, magnanimous and kind and in the present crisis ready to follow the such a course with the defeated belligerants as would win them back to their allegiance to the Government and subdue the rebellion in their hearts as well as subjugate their aims. The South has lost in him a good & judicious friend."
http://siarchives.si.edu/history/exhibits/stories/death-abraham-lincoln-april-15-26-1865
