Barber's Writing Academy, Mid 1800s Fraktur Penmanship Example in Great Period Frame antique carved anchor I presume a portrait miniature--but

I presume a portrait miniature--but perhaps it is a tintype of a daguerreotype of a painting (

but I think they were stored in a basement for some time where there was some moisture as there is a little mildew here and there showing against the black paper inside the slides

On one edge of the page our subject is so intently writing upon is printed "Salvation Army"--perhaps the joke here being that the soul of our Y

into which all of the components neatly fit

or at least entree into the upper ranks of a secret society

Barber's Writing Academy, Mid 1800s Fraktur Penmanship Example in Great Period Frame antique carved anchor I presume a portrait miniature--butMy photos here don't do much justice to this, but I think it's really a nice thing, and very much a whole package. And while it took me a little while to figure out, I think it is quite possible that this was actually the lid of a writing box, with what appear to be parts of two hinges still attached to the corner sides of the frame at top, and a nail on the bottom edge at center, which would have met a clasp. At least I think so. And if so, one might