1850s album of business, club and personal cards, costume ball invitation, etc.. From across Europe.

Over 100 business cards, collected during the 1850s, including a large metal card with "fabricant de canons". Other highlights include an invitation to a costume ball, and a calling card with flowers.

The collector was Dr. Francisco Garcia (manuscript note on 1st card in album).

There are a number of invitations to the Dresden Gesellschaft der Ressource, a social club whose 1847 statutes (Statuten fur die Gesellschaft der Ressource) states that their "ultimate purpose is recreation and literary entertainment" (translated).

The cards are from throughout Europe, including Hotels in London, Paris, Stockholm, Dresden, among others. Many of the personal cards have titles, like "Comte" and "Baron".

There is a notable "Bal Costume" invitation from Baron Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust and his Barrone. During the 1840-1870's he played a leading role in German politics.

The metal card is for Carl Ekman, measuring 13.5 x 7.5 cm. An 1868 book, The Engineer, states that he was the Director of the Cannon Foundry of Fingspong, Sweden.

The album is an engaging peak into mid-19th century political, business, and personal European life.

Physical Attributes -

Measures 22.5 x 15.5 x 2 cm. Cloth hardcover. All edges gilt (AEG). 58 leaves, 39 leaves with cards. 110 business/calling cards, and eight invite/event cards.

Condition -

See pictures. Album worn, with shelf wear, edge wear and bumps, a little fraying to cloth, etc. There is some thumbing and occasional light edge wear to pages. The last 19 leaves look as though they had paste-ins removed (not cards, as they do not have the slits for cards). Rear pastedown has been removed. One card missing from leaf 31; the other blank leaf slot is for the metal card which is now in a protective sleeve.