Antique Penmanship retailer Practice Book Dated 1839 // 19th Century Handwriting

Penmanship practice book dated 1839, belonging to Abigail “Abby” Kinsman (1831-1911) of Ipswich, Massachusetts. She would have been 8 years old when she was using this book to practice cursive handwriting. It is filled with repeated lines written in her hand, including: The breaking waves dashed high on a stern and rockbound coast.

This 29 page booklet and handwritten insert was found, along with several 1854 copies of Harpers New Monthly Magazine (those are also available) inside a beautiful old worn wooden Japanese tea chest from an old New England estate. The chest itself was lined with newspapers from 1856 of The Dayspring, Boston, published by the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. Much of Abby's handwriting practice has virtuous or religious references.

Notice the medial or long “s” that looks like an “f” in the third image. The medial “s” was used at the beginning of a lowercase word or in the middle of a word, while the round “s” (the one we're familiar with) would appear either at the end of a word or retailer after a medial “s” within a word, as it does here in “business.”

Abby was daughter of Nathaniel and Joanna (Brown) Kinsman. They owned a section of the early Argilla Farm of Samuel Symonds in Ipswich. Later, Abby and her then husband, Joseph Marshall inherited it. I have passed by and admired this beautiful farm for many years.

Condition: Good antique condition.

Dimensions: 8 inches by 6.75 inches

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