PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA PRESENTATION-TYPE PICTORIAL NEEDLEWORK SAMPLER, silk and wool on linen, a part of the "Philadelphia Presentation" samplers, center with a six-line verse vignette, above featuring long leaves terminating in twisted stems of flowers, below depicting an elongated low basket filled with two rows of strawberries and sprigs of berries at each end, presented on a pedestal platform signed "Matilda Graves's Work done in her 9th year", all encompassed by a sawtooth-patterned frame and a scrolling strawberry vine border, edges with probably period applied tape. Unframed. Together with Graves family archive materials, comprising two album/scrapbooks with one having "MATILDA B. GRAVES" in gilt lettering; two small volumes with Matilda's name to fronts, including A Whisper to a Newly-Married Pair, From a Widowed Wife, Philadelphia: 1832; an amethyst seal with "Matilda" engraved on one side; three photographic prints of her sister, Eliza "Lilly" Graves Osborne (1822-1896), featuring the smallest with paint detailing, and a black-and-white copy with writing on the back by one of Lilly's sons; and a daguerreotype of an unidentified woman probably of Matilda or one of her sisters. Ten pieces total. Circa 1835. 17 3/4" x 13 3/4" OA.
Literature: Information about and needleworks from "Philadelphia Presentation" sampler group, see Ring - Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850, pp. 374-377. Parallels Ring - American Needlework Treasures: Samplers and Silk Embroideries from the Collection of Betty Ring, pp. 42, fig. 69; and Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum, accession no. 1941-69-71, object ID 18564367.
Catalogue Note: The maker is identified as Matilda Brett Graves, who was born around 1826 in Philadelphia, PA to parents Bartholemew Graves (c. 1776-1853) and Mary Burk (1780-1851). Her parents married on March 15, 1800, and they had at least five daughters including Matilda. Her father served in William Duane's volunteer militia company, the Republican Greens, was promoted in 1808 to major in the 2nd Battalion of the Philadelphia Legion, and served during the War of 1812.
Not much is currently known about Matilda's life, though she never married. The 1850 U.S. Census for South Mulberry Ward, Philadelphia, PA records her living with her elderly parents, two married sisters with children, and an unmarried sister in addition to two servants. Matilda died on May 8, 1886 and is buried at Laurel Hill Cemetery in Philadelphia along with most of her family.

Sampler in excellent condition except for light toning, possibly a hole or an as-made imperfection between the long leaves above the verse, losses/fraying to purple thread on two flowers, a few other small thread losses, applied tag with name and life dates on proper upper right corner, retains vibrant colors; albums and volumes in as-found condition with expected wear, tears, discoloration, losses, and other imperfections; amethyst seal in excellent condition except probably lacking handle; photographs and daguerreotype in good to very good visual condition with some imperfections.