The preservation of plants and flowers for both decorative and scientific purposes dates back to ancient times. Drying and pressing flowers became a popular hobby and preservation method in Victorian England. The flower press was readily available to buy or simple and inexpensive to create. This flower press was marketed through Henry Buck Pty. Ltd. in Melbourne, Victoria. Henry Buck migrated from England and established his store in Melbourne in 1890. The business dealt primarily in menswear, but also had other domestic lines. The business, trading as Henry Bucks, still operates in Melbourne and several other locations.This item is representative of a popular hobby of the Victorian era.A flower press made from timber with metal clasps and screws. The front is decorated with a parquetry flower design. There are 2 metal strips screwed onto the timber horizontally. These are secured by wing screws which can be adjusted to hold the back and front together. They allow pressure to be adjusted depending on what item is being compressed.Label on back: Left hand side around red shape with HB in the centre "THE SIGN OF/ EXCELLENCE" On right hand side: "LONDON/ Henry Buck PTY LTD. / MELBOURNE"flower drying, victorian era hobbies, henry buck pty. ltd.

The inscription in the book indicates that it once belonged to Edwin J Dale, who may have received it May 13th 1901, the date on the inscription. The album was made in Germany and has English, German, French and Spanish language on the fly page. It has 2000 pockets for holding stamps and is illustrated. The printer, Spottiswoode and Co., was established in 1738 by William Strahan, with premises in New Street Square, London. The growing firm advertised as Printers, Lithographers, Stationers, Electrotypers, Publishers, and Booksellers and by 1914 there were 1,000 employees.The stamp album is of Victorian vintage and shows that at the end of the 19th century people collected stamps. It represents the hobbies and past times of the people of that era.Illustrated Postage Stamp Album. Publisher: Lalso by CF Lucke, Leipzig, Germany Printer: Spottiswoode & Co Ltd, London Date: 1908 Red hardcover, illustrated with a robed figure image and text in English, German, French and Spanish. Book has information, advertising and pages divided into blank squares for attaching stamps. Some pages have cutouts where squares would have been, perhaps holding stamps. An inscription with the name Edwin J Dale, 13 May 1901 is on the first turned page..Inscription: Edwin J Dale, May 13th 1901" Cover: "Illustrated POSTAGE STAMP ALBUM" Inage on cover: "within a floral border, a robed figure wearing a winged helmet, holding a staff with two snakes in one hand, and a sealed letter in the other." Fly: "Registered" "Schaubeks Postage Stamp Album" "Victoria" "Briefmarken"[German - stamps] "Pour Timbres-poste" [French - for postage Stamps] "Para Selloyde Correo" [Spanish - for postage stamps] "With 1070 reduced illustrations, 2200 blank cases for stamps" (also in German, French and Spanish) "Made in Germany"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, illustrated postage stamp album, postage stamp album, stamp album, book, postage stamp, stamp, edwin j dale, may 13th 1901, stamp collecting, german stamp album, spottiswoode & co ltd, germany, cf lucke leipzig, cf lucke, leipzig