c1875 Victorian Portfolio of 25 Sewing Cards

Circa 1875 Victorian boxed set of 25 completed sewing cards, in the original hardcase and hinged storage box. Made by the A. Hohman company, which produced luxury bookbinding and stationary products, including sets of punched sewing cards for homeschooling. Similar cards with simpler patterns were made for schools, but those cards were loose; accordion-style “books” of cards were reserved for wealthy families.

Each card measures about 6″ by 8″ and is made of thick, stiff card stock in a dark brown color. The “leporello” or accordion format allows the work to be removed from its protective case and displayed, either flat on a table for examination or staggered on a mantel for display. Because the designs range from simpler animals and flowers to very intricate geometric patterns, this portfolio likely served as a child’s graduation piece or an adult’s embroidery sampler portfolio. In Froebel-style instruction, children started with basic geometric straight lines, graduated to curves (forming flowers and animals), and concluded with complex, overlapping geometric webs.

A rare find in good condition: the 25 cards are all still connected, and the reverse sides are hidden by attached cream colored paper. The cards fold into a decorative, protective hardcase which has two more embroidered cards on the front and back covers. One of the original brown ribbon ties has broken off. Most cards are in very good condition but two have cracked vertically and several have minor chips along the edges. The first card with the castle has some water spotting on the paper. The gilt embossed hinged storage box is in good condition.