New England is such a happy place for tapophiles: Our cemetery monuments are uniquely beautiful. But if you aren’t from here or can’t get here, I can bring a little New England funerary beauty to you: This vintage gravestone rubbing was taken from an 1835 monument and features my favorite motif, the weeping willow. Inscription:

In memory of Daniel Crocker, son of Walter and Phoebe W Chipman, who was wrecked and drowned at Port Patrick Scotland by the loss of ship Leon of Boston, February 1, 1835, aged 18 years and seven months

Daniel is buried at Cobb’s Hill cemetery in Barnstable, MA. The gravestone rubbing was done around the mid-20th century and is presented in a newer, dark gray frame. It’s very large: Measures 32” x 28”.

The rubbing is in very good condition and was done on blue paper with gold rubbing wax. You can see glimpses of this blue paper at the bottom of the rubbing. Other than that, the print is in great shape and ready for your wall.