Mid/late 18th century linen and silk work sampler by Mary Leech aged 8 - 1771. This sampler is completely charming with neat stitch work throughout, the moreso when one considers Mary was just eight years old when she completed it. The upper section of the gauze is stitched with rows of alphabet letters and numbers with the following short verse beneath which has two sets of family initials to the right - True modest virtue it is said to be the glory of a maid. The middle section of th...e linen is stitched with three further rows of lettering followed by Mary's details - Mary Leech. My work in the eighth year of my age 1771 - the date having a diamond motif to the left and two crowns to the right. The lower section of the linen is stitched with a further rhyming couplet - Delight in Learning soon doth bring a child to learn the hardest thing.The linen has overall discolouration consistent with its age, fairly dark, and the colours of the silks are good with the odd stitch missing here and there. The last photo is of the reverse of the sampler and indicates how the colours would have looked when Mary first stitched it. As can also be seen from the photographs, there are a few small areas of damage and minor thinning to the linen. I've photographed the sampler on a white background to highlight this but once on a similar coloured backing the damage would be less noticeable.Measures 7 1/4" x 17 1/4" ANY QUESTIONS, PLEASE ASK. ALSO PLEASE CHECK OUT THE OTHER SAMPLERS I'M SELLING. I AM HAPPY TO COMBINE POSTAGE ON MULTIPLE PURCHASES.PLEASE NOTE - THIS ITEM IS LOCATED IN THE UK BUT CAN BE SHIPPED TO THE LOCATIONS TICKED IN THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING SECTION. SHIPPING WILL BE VIA ROYAL MAIL TRACK & SIGNED - $17.00 TO THE USA, ELSEWHERE PLEASE CONTACT ME.