George Birkbeck (1776-1841) was a philanthropist, educator, physician, academic and poet.
He founded  the first Mechanics' Institute in Edinburgh, 1821 and London in 1823, where the working men of London could see lectures, visit libraries and use apparatus for experiments.  This was later renamed Birkbeck College in his honour. In 1830 it was one of the first colleges to admit women.
 
 In 1807, his first wife, Catherine Lloyd, sadly died in childbirth. He married Anne Margaret Gardner (1793-1875) in 1817.
 
   Mrs Birkbeck created a unique album, which had many contributions, paintings, poetry etc. from their elite social circle. A poem was written for her by Mary Shelley, for example.
 
Impaled arms of Birkbeck and Gardner.
Birkbeck, 'Argent a fess chequy or and sable between three lions heads erased gules'. Gardner or Gardiner, ' A chevron ermine, between three hunting horns, stringed'.
 
Measures approx 9.5 Inches wide.
Excellent condition.