Both volumes bound in glazed paper wrappers.

In English.

Two manuscript volumes of an elaborate manuscript magazine, written for the amusement of family members and friends in the mid-19th century, by an unidentified compiler. It includes finely illustrated title pages (in pen and ink), charades, stories, spoofs of Joyce's Scientific Dialogues, several humourous illustrations, a botanical watercolour, mounted photographs, and a series of plates with moveable flaps to accompany a comic poem entitled Eyes and their Expression. The present volumes are noted as nos. four and six of the series. There is no known record of the other volumes in this series.

Contributions include: "Muckle-mouth Meg"; "A Lament on the Departure of the Frost, Jan. 1855"; "A Pleasant History of the Loves of Little Job & Fair Mayflower"; a piece on railway travel and tickets; and "The Crinoline Catastrophe, related by Miss Julia D to Miss Sophie E." There is also a fifteen page account titled "The Early Days of Edmund Kean": “the following account of the youth of this celebrated actor is in every respect perfectly authentic. The benefactress and friend of Kean alluded to in it was a dear friend of the writer, who was also perfectly cognisant of all the circumstances. It need scarcely be said that to the writer's knowledge none of these facts have ever found their way into print.” Another contribution, an "Account of a Run with Mr Brand's hounds on Tuesday March 22nd 1850" might suggest a location. There is a reference to Whelpley Hill, which is near Chesham in Buckinghamshire, and also Granville Ryder's Park. Granville Ryder lived at Westbrook Hay, Bovingdon, Hertfordshire. Named contributors include: Biddy, Viola, J.H.K., A.L.C. Holmes, and H.H.

Manuscript magazines.

Periodicals.

Ink drawings.

Watercolors.

Photographs.