Victorian Sea Moss Specimens Album with Manuscript Poems, Boothbay Harbor and Nantucket antique hand-pain ted fan earlier than later 19th century

earlier than later 19th century I believe

which I think rather transcends its original function to read almost like a text piece by Jenny Holzer

with all those tiny 1's and 2's making the pole and field of stars

Based on the only one other I found out there anywhere (listed at $1500)

Victorian Sea Moss Specimens Album with Manuscript Poems, Boothbay Harbor and Nantucket antique hand-pain ted fan earlier than later 19th centuryI've had a few Victorian sea moss albums and booklets over the years, but this the first with handwritten verses to accompany the mosses on every page. "Was this the fringe of a sea nymph's robe Caught in the door of a coral cave Loosened by waters that span the globe And tossed ashore on a foamy wave?" Very Victorian indeed! The maker of this was clearly devoted to the effort, and in most cases documented the type of sea moss and also where it was