Via the Public Domain Review, we have learned about the digitization of a rare fourteen-volume work entitled The American Woods by Romeyn Beck Hough, published between 1888-1928, which features many plates of paper thin wood slices in addition to the usual written descriptions and lithograph drawings of the specimens. We receive the occasional question about identifying wood species, so this work may help you visually identify now-rare species potentially used in historic buildings.
There are two online sources to view the wood plates:
Internet Archive (Full books with text and plates)
Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library (Plates only)
If you prefer a physical copy to peruse and buying an authentic set with real wood plates is out of the question, a reproduction using high-quality facsimiles of the original wood plates entitled Romeyn B. Hough: The Woodbook was released in 2013. This edition arranges the specimens in one volume alphabetically with descriptive text and accompanying lithographs.