19th Century Carved Marble Folk Art Book with Detailed Spine and Camouflaged Monogram welded caterpillar with nary a tear or

with nary a tear or smudge or spot

I've got a soft spot for these antique transferware child's cups

which I knew to be quite rare

This one I purchased from a favorite dealer in Cambridge

19th Century Carved Marble Folk Art Book with Detailed Spine and Camouflaged Monogram welded caterpillar with nary a tear orI love a carved stone folk art book, and the rich red and white marble on this one is just gorgeous. And, the patterning on the marble has the effect of almost entirely camouflaging the monogram beautifully carved into the face of it, which the carver clearly knew, such that it feels like an intentional sort of secret. I felt it first with my fingers, then looking closely and holding the book an angle, one can just discern it; looks like SLC to me.