Hand-stitched Cloth Covered "The Children's First Reader" c. 1892, with Drawings sculptural wall object All of the etched numbers

All of the etched numbers remain completely readable

and those rhinestone-esque head light and tail lights

and terrific warm dry wood patina

I used my critical eye (

and initialed in marker by its one time owner on the underside of the base

Hand-stitched Cloth Covered "The Children's First Reader" c. 1892, with Drawings sculptural wall object All of the etched numbersI've become pretty smitten with antique fabric covered books like this, with zig zag stitching holding the fabric tight to the inside covers, and even better to find drawings or doodles inside, as is the case here. The book is Ellen M. Cyr's "The Children's First Reader" published in 1892 or so (the title and copyright pages are missing here, but the rest of the book seems to be present.) I really like the fact the the drawings consume the dedication