Curious and Unusual 1865 American Civil War Paper Hand Fan handmade pin cusion though combining them encouraged me

though combining them encouraged me to think behind the square at how these might spread out to make all sorts of of other shapes and patterns

I would guess this piece dates to the mid 20th century

but equally handy for earrings

) I have not figured out for certain what this would have been used for: grain measuring

and intellectual" game

Curious and Unusual 1865 American Civil War Paper Hand Fan handmade pin cusion though combining them encouraged meI purchased this fan from my favorite rare book seller, not knowing quite what to make of it, but finding it quite an interesting, unusual and striking looking thing. I am not enough of a Civil War expert to unpack it, but I am pretty certain the choice of blue ink for the printing connects it the Union, while the serpent at the center of the fan represents the Confederacy. It seems possible, with numbers 1 7 along the left side, that it makes