Mary & Lincoln back together Christmas 1841?

[Anita]

"During the summer of 1842, after the couple had gone nearly eighteen months without personal contact, mutual friends conspired to bring Mary and Abraham back together."
Source: Doris Kearns Goodwin. Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln. page 101.

While researching in the Lincoln Home Furnishings report I came across this item given to Margaret Sinninger by Robert Todd Lincoln. James Hickey is footnoted verifying she was a good friend of Robert.

"Album given by Abraham Lincoln to Mary Todd. Shield on cover is engraved "A.L. to M.T." It has a brass clasp and is dated December 25, 1841. It is black leather, faded with age, and contains photographs taken during the Civil War of Abraham Lincoln, Mrs. Edwards, the Governors of many States, and many Generals of the Army."

Note that the year is 1841. Could Mary and Lincoln have been seeing each other earlier than the current thinking? I think given the chemistry between them and living nearby it's very possible they didn't keep apart for 18 months. They were both in Springfield Dec. 1841.

The report states the items given to her by Robert were offered to the Chicago Historical Society in 1937 and a copy of the items was listed in correspondence found in the Lincoln Home Files at Illinois State Historical Society Library.