Dreka’s Dictionary Blotter; or, Combination of Word-Book with a Blotting-Case. Philadelphia: Louis Dreka, [1873?]
This book/blotter’s decorative binding and striking fuchsia silk endpaper (seemingly still as bright as the day it was attached to the boards) look too glamorous to mark up, but apparently its previous owner disagreed. The ink stains inside prove it was used, as intended, to soak up excess ink. Less easy to ascertain is whether the innovation of including a spelling dictionary and lists of synonyms, common English first names, and geographical names were used as well.
