Fantastic!!! I know it would be a tremendous amount of work, but could you imagine having those scanned into digital format!!!!
I am glad to hear that they went to a person who would give them the respect that they deserve, rather than being torn up intro a decoupage project.. (I have seen an 1860's sewing machine manual that had been used for lining drawers... oh the humanity.....)
Congrats!
EDIT: some history
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Brooks_Picken
http://www.burdastyle.com/blog/sewin...ored-tradition
Guess someone like the idea of scanning them....
http://www.abebooks.com/servlet/Sear...nces&x=65&y=14