Allie Alvis, a book historian based in Washington, D.C., shares photos of this marvel that she recently purchased. The front and back covers are slices of whalebone, most likely from the vertebrae, according to marine ecologist Dr. Kelly J. Smith.
Alvis says that the book dates back to 1914. It’s filled with pressed images of fake ferns. The bone itself most likely came from the Old Whaling Station, a landmark along the Los Angeles shore. This facility was an active whaling hub from 1864 through 1874. This is one of at least two collections of fern images bound in whalebone, which leads Alvis to conclude that “it was possibly a souvenir production.”