1830s–1850s commonplace book kept by Herminea Brendlinger Kerr, sister of Hiram J. Brendlinger, Denver’s second Mayor, and signed twice by him.

—

---

Herminea Maria (née) Brendlinger Kerr (1818–1897) was the sister (and eventual heir) to the affluent Hiram J. Brendlinger [H.J. Brendlinger] (1825–1894), California argonaut, Colorado pioneer, cigar store owner in Montana Territory, Deadwood, Dakota Territory and Denver, and Denver’s second Mayor between 1864–1865. 

This album was kept by Herminea (sometimes seen as Hermina) as a young woman and then, later, as a married woman. Herminea’s brother writes in her album twice, autographing his name twice, as a young man. Once in 1837 and then ten years later (“Long years have passed since last I wrote / Upon this treasured album’s pages…”) in 1847. By all measures, two very rare autographs.

The album illustrates her being courted by Dr. Marcus “Mark” G. Kerr (1818–1895) —her very young suitor, and then-devoted husband and future preceptor at Philadelphia’s Woman’s Medical College, and receiving felicitous sentiments from her friends: some are written in English and German and one, even, is written in shorthand. Further, a large curl of hair (perhaps gifted) is laid in. Elsewhere, an ambitiously-attempted pastoral drawing in pencil and wash sits above a copied out poem by the ubiquitous Cowper. Most of the album’s inscribers write from Philadelphia and nearby Norristown, Pennsylvania.

Note: Grossly-defective in heavily worn octavo-sized American gift blank book binding bound in a variety of papers: backstrip; title-page, plates, leaves, endpapers, etc. either lacking or with losses or stains. Twenty-five leaves are accomplished in manuscript; remaining leaves are blanked. Boards attached, but condition is poor.

Price: $150.00