Scrapbooking - 19th Century Scrapbook

Many 19th century mothers kept a homemade scrapbook, the paste-pot, blunt-pointed scissors, and pictures on hand as a rainy day occupation for her children.  Scrap-pictures or sheets of pictures, colorful and attractive, in every variety of shape, size, and design, were bought and kept on hand for these special days. 

In 1881, Harper’s Bazaar deemed a scrapbook activity as a "never-ending source of delight" for young children.  For the nursery age brood they gave instructions for making a large scrapbook of brown linen.  Each sheet was three feet by four, with the edges bound with red braid.  The sheets were folded in half like foolscap paper, and placed one within the other to form a book. The covers would have all the youngsters’ names in red braid or wool, and the date.  A basketful of newspaper and colored scraps to add to the scrapbook would engage the nursery occupants for hours.

Another idea for children suggested by Harper’s was making a “comical scrap-book.” These were usually of small size and were made by combining bits of many pictures to illustrate well-known nursery rhymes. Thus a large Irish potato, cut from the colored illustrations in a gardener's catalog, was ornamented with the celebrated butcher, baker, and candlestick-maker; the opposite page containing the same three little men, with cleaver, rolling-pin, and candlestick used as oars, seated in a tub, taken from a house-furnisher's list.  Little Miss Muffet, the Man in the Moon, Jack and Jill, the Cat and the Fiddle—all the nursery favorites—were other themes to create. A few watercolor touches would be added here and there to help out the picture.

Below you can explore the pages of a rare 1880’s child’s scrapbook. The cover of this large handmade scrapbook is covered with brown linen. The multi-colored inside pages are covered in pink, white, red, blue or tan fabric with the edges hand bound in colorful wools. The pages are decorated with a lively assortment of multi-hued scraps, trade cards, and greeting cards – including series and sets.