The book was captured in the reoriented direction done "shortly before 1700" (see details in notes below).
…with additions 1688–1701]. Oblong 2° (22 . 31 cm). An album of pre-printed red grids (printed on 1 side of each leaf ) mostly of 101 . 161 squares, each grid square measuring about 1.67 . 1.67 mm, with every 10th square marked the along the edges by 2 gridlines extending about 1 grid length into the margin, used as intended to make manuscript needlework patterns by putting a black ink dot in each square that is supposed to be filled. What was originally the first leaf (the only folding leaf ) has been constructed by pasting together about 2/3 of two different grid leaves before the pattern was filled in. Of the 50 grid leaves, 49 were probably printed ca. 1600, while the present leaf 1 along with 6 smaller pieces of grid paper mounted on the unprinted sides of leaves 1 and 2 were probably added ca. 1700. Half brown sheepskin with a morocco grain (England, ca. 1855/65). With the original ca. 1600 brown paper wrappers bound in
"A ca. 1600 pattern book, probably intended for lace, embroidery and perhaps weaving and other applica¬tions. It was produced as an album of grid paper, most leaves with a red grid of 101 . 161 squares, where the user could make patterns by filling in some squares with a black dot and leaving others blank.
In its original orientation, the album began with the folding leaf followed by 48 leaves. The first owner or user of the album probably filled most of the leaves with patterns soon after it was produced ca. 1600. The paper of the grid leaves and the white paper core of the brown paper wrappers was made in Augsburg around 1600 (see below) and the frequent use of pinecone motifs in the pattern designs suggests that the book was not only printed but also used in Augsburg.
Shortly before 1700, someone began using the album again, turning it over and pasting a pink label with the date “Ao 1699” to what had been the back wrapper, making it the front wrapper. This was probably Anna Catharina von Knoll, who inscribed her name twice on the inside of what had become the front wrapper.
With an inscription, probably an owner’s name, erased and illegible, on the inside of what was orig¬inally the front wrapper. The 1707 inscription by Anna Catharina von Knoll, noted above, gives her name twice.
With marginal restorations, 1 with the loss of the corner of the grid but apparently no loss to the pattern, minor and mostly marginal foxing, and an occasional small ink spot, abrasion or transparent stain. The binding has cracks in the hinges and some abrasions. Although the book certainly shows signs of use, most of the patterns survive complete and in good condition. A remarkably early Augsburg pattern book for lace and needlework, with the patterns rendered with a pen and black ink on preprinted red grids.
[50], [1 blank] ll. with 6 pieces mounted on leaves 1 & 2. Sotheby, Cat. of the first portion of the library of the late Edward Hailstone (4–14 February 1891), lot 1195? (not seen); for (mostly printed) pattern books in general: Early modern embroidery and lace pattern books; Arthur Lotz, Bibliographie der Modelbücher."
Full pdf available, https://dl.mospace.umsystem.edu/mu/islandora/object/mu%3A447498/datastre...
