Testimony of Approbation for Maralyn, Unusual Early 19th Century Letterpress Reward of Merit magazine rack The near-black side clearly once

The near-black side clearly once showed a message spelled out in pins

with the questions posed by a suitor and the answer returned by the recipient

patient grinder he looks to be

or just inside the door could be the hanger for all one's keys--with a spare set dangling from its tail

shot at 2-3 times magnification

Testimony of Approbation for Maralyn, Unusual Early 19th Century Letterpress Reward of Merit magazine rack The near-black side clearly onceI've become quite attentive to rewards of merit, specifically hunting for early and unusual ones, handmade or otherwise rare and special. This one I found in Maine, purchased from a dealer from whom I recently purchased several others, those, awarded to a Polly Este, from the 1820s, and I believe this one, expressing approbation for a young Maralyn, from about then too. The irregular cut of the paper combined with armillary sphere and letterpress