Early American Embroidery Designs

Though it was common for women of the 18th and 19th centuries to keep personal albums of their own needlework designs, few of these hand-drawn pattern books survive intact. This rare volume, signed and dated 1815 by Elizabeth M. Townshend, appears to be just such a collection - an authentic treasury of embroidery designs dating from the early days of the Republic.

Brimming with nearly 200 timeless, functional designs, this priceless sourcebook ranges from highly stylized repeat patter…