This is outside the Nankin scope but the brilliance of this antique text and the library plate and markings makes it note and blogworthy. The book, The Amateur Actor , by W. H. Venable was published by Wilson, Hinkle & Co. in 1874. I'm guessing that the checkout card at the back is not original since the book was published in 1874 and the first stamp is from 1900. Or it's merely a later edition. Since the building didn't open until 1884 it is obviously a mixture of both. The illustrations, despite being limited to a dozen or so, are quite excellent as well: The fact that this building still exists and is operating makes me want to drive it up to their steps, walk in and place it in some sort of glass casing and just walk out, never to return. But I still much prefer the postcard contemporary to the book and the lost era: I've located another plate here .