Testimony of Approbation for Maralyn, Unusual Early 19th Century Letterpress Reward of Merit magazine rack with the questions posed by

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

and I have to agree--I've never see one packed with as many darnings as this

2 3/4" t x 1 9/16" in diameter

shot at 2-3 times magnification

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

Testimony of Approbation for Maralyn, Unusual Early 19th Century Letterpress Reward of Merit magazine rack with the questions posed byI'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