Alphonse P. Chicoine (1867-1946), Ware, Massachusetts, c. 1900.
Exceptional set of calligraphic drawings and portraiture by Alphonse P. Chicoine, a French-Canadian who worked as a saddle maker in Ware, Massachusetts, includes: one cloth-bound hardcover commercial sketchbook with the initials A.P.C. written in ink on inside cover and twice on inside back cover, which also bears the stamp of Boston stationer H.A. Shepard, containing twenty-four leaves, seven with neatly executed pencil and colored pencil drawings in the style of late-Victorian printed ephemera, featuring layered ornate framing devices to contain pictures, emblems, and personalized calligraphic text, as well as five pages depicting copied and original portraits of women. One leatherbound sketchbook with tooled inscription "A.P.C. / TO / Delphine M. Chicoine / 1898", containing forty-six leaves, all filled with colorful calligraphic compositions, the first being a dedication page to "D.M.C." dated April 1898. One booklet containing twelve watermarked leaves, the title "Artistic Resolutions: Designing and Engrossing Testimonial's and Memorials of Every Description" elaborately drawn in black and red ink on the cover, traced or original designs appearing on nine of the twelve watermarked leaves, including a cartouche for Chicoine's son resembling steel engraving inscribed "TESTIMONIAL / WILLIAM J. CHICOINE / on his / FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY / August 12, 1904"; emblems of a sailboat and river landscape that recur on calling cards made for Mrs. Delphine M. Chicoine; copies of official documents, perhaps original commissions, for a meeting of the School Committee of the City of Boston held 26 June 1903, the Advisory Committee of the Benevolent Order of Prince of Malta of the City of Scranton, held 10 January 1903, and a meeting of the Board of Aldermen of the City of Melrose, Massachusetts, held 16 September 1901 to pass resolutions regarding the late U.S. President William McKinley. Nine loose calligraphic drawings and portraits signed A.P.C., and four calling cards, two inscribed "Mrs. Delphine M. Chicoine, / Ware, Mass." and two inscribed "Wm J. Chicoine, / Ware, Mass.", leather sketchbook, 22cm wide, 22cm high (9in wide, 9in high).