Good Posture in the Little Child
Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Labor Children's Bureau, 1935. Very good to near-fine. One small stain to upper wrapper.. A government-issued pamphlet instructing American parents in how to improve posture in toddlers and young children. Seen as a sign of "good body mechanics", posture would have been taught as an essential component to good health on par with exercise and a balanced diet at the time. Includes diagrams and several pages of games intended to improve a child's... Read More
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Ten (10) Japanese Fans with Original Artwork and Hand colored, 1880s
Japan, 1880. Good to very good. Minor toning, spotting, short tears. Light dust soiling.. Ten (10) Japanese Fans from the 1880s, most likely created for the tourist trade. In the late 19th century following the forced reopening of Japanese trade with the West, Western countries became intensely interested in Japanese art and culture, a phenomenon now referred to as "Japonisme". Each of the fans features either a natural motif, with flora and birds, or figures in traditional Japanese... Read More
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Certificate for School Children's Landmark League of California
San Francisco, Ca, 27-May-03. General toning and soiling due to age.. A certificate for the School Children's Landmark League of California, which was a society started in 1903 to raise funds for the "purchase and restoration of the historic landmarks of the State of California". The League was granted permission by the San Francisco's Board of Education to sell certificates to students for for ten cents each. Each certificate had a printed black and white image of the... Read More
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Letter Relaying News of a Child's Death at the Children's Aid Society of Cleveland and Vicinity's Industrial School and Home
Cleveland, Ohio, 1880. Very good. Letter folds and minor toning. Envelope worn and dust soiled.. An emotional and affecting handwritten letter relaying news of the death of a young boy due to "consumption of the bowels" to "Bro" from "Sarah". She describes how, despite the child's apparent suffering, he "slept well most nights, and rested in my arms through the day, perfectly content if I was only near him. He became very much emaciated, so [I] have carried... Read More
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Inventory of Items Purchased by Elizabeth Hall from the Estate of Joshua Coolidge of Boston, Massachusetts in 1812
Boston, Massachusetts, 1812. Good. Toned with spotting, dust soiling, a couple short tears.. Fair copy manuscript inventory and appraisal of items purchased by Elizabeth Hall from the estate of Mr. Joshua Coolidge of Boston. Valued at $122.60, roughly $2,909.26 today, it includes the following: "2 Loads Manure", "one bedstead", "5 Pictures", "2 hen coops", "one cow", and other items necessary for running a farmstead. Ink manuscript on blank bifolium (11.5" by 7").
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1903 "Flip Flap" Coaster Novelty Badge
Atlantic City, New Jersey: Young's Million Dollar Pier, 1903. Very good. Light dust soiling.. A fun novelty badge produced in 1903 for lovers of the "Loop the Loop", a.k.a. the "Flip Flap Railway", in Atlantic City, New Jersey. An early example of the roller coaster, it was designed and built in 1901 by Edward A. Green and Edwin Prescott for Atlantic City's "Young's Million Dollar Pier". There are two components to the badge, secured together with a brass... Read More
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The Heart That's True" -- Elaborate 8vo Valentine
England, 1860. Very good. Light dust soiling, spotting, nicks. A couple scraps/pieces of paper loosening, a couple modern tape repairs.. An elaborate 8vo valentine made from lace paper adhered on top of colored decorative papers underneath, with a printed poem titled "The Heart That's True" that begins, "Ardent in its earliest tie Faithful in its latest sigh Love and friendship-- godlike pair-- Fine the throne of glory there". Also Includes two small floral Victorian scraps and two chromolitho... Read More
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Froebel Birthday Fair Invitation
New York, New York: Jenny Hunter Alumnae Association, 1908. Very good. Toned, verso sunned.. Printed invitation to an afternoon "Froebel Birthday Fair" held "under the auspices of the Jenny Hunter Alumnae Association, for the benefit of the Alumnae Free Kindergarten" in New York, New York. The Jenny Hunter Training School was founded in 1887 by Jenny Hunter, the daughter of Hunter College's founder, Thomas Hunter. She trained and educated young women to teach the Kindergarten and Froebel methods... Read More
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Victorian Snowball Fight 12mo Valentine
England, 1860. Very good. A couple nicks, toning, staining.. An attractive 12mo valentine made from a lace paper bifolium (4.5" by 3.5") with a die-cut and embossed Victorian scrap affixed to the front depicting a young child in winter garb with an armful of snowballs. The lace paper is very nice, but unfortunately doesn't have a maker embossed in the pattern.
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Marietta, Ohio Promotional Ephemera
Marietta, Ohio: Marietta Chamber of Commerce, 1927. Good. Dust soiling, die-cut photo book lacking staples due to rust, leaves loose.. Ephemera promoting Marietta, Ohio as a desirable place to move to and work, including a large folding illustrated map of the area and a photo book die-cut into the shape of one of Marietta's historic buildings. Marketed as "The most historic city west of the Thirteen Original Colonies", the photo book largely features sites of historical interest, alongside... Read More
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Elaborate 8vo Valentine with Lace Paper, Victorian Scrap, Silk Trim -- Florals, Children at Play
[Worcester, Mass?]: [Whitney?], 1880. Very good. Spine tender, with modern tape repair. A few nicks.. An elaborate 8vo valentine made from lace paper, Victorian scrap, and silk trim including floral imagery and imagery of children playing outdoors. The decorations have been adhered to the bifolium with strips of paper allowing them to "pop up" or have a 3-D effect. Inside is printed in pink: "May thy path from every thorn be free, May every joy be thine, May... Read More
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Commonplace Book of Sally Ann Waring (1804-1872) -- Melancholy, Religion, Friendship
Market Street, New York, New York, 1830. Fair. Flaws include toning, spotting, loose leaves, wear and damage to binding, at least one leaf excised.. The commonplace book of Sally Ann Waring (1804-1872), containing meaningful poetry selected to provide an intimate portrait of her internal thoughts, hopes, and passions. This example of a commonplace book is notable for its completeness (every page is full), thoughtfulness, and for the visceral way in which the creator's hopes and dreams are represented... Read More
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Bob's School Days
New York, New York: McLoughlin Bros, 1880. Good to very good. Spine worn with short tears and chipping. Some staining/spotting, light dust soiling.. A fun picture book for early readers by McLoughlin, telling the story of a mischievous school boy named Bob and his antics in the classroom. Includes six (6) full page chromolitho plates, two of which combine to span an entire opening and depict the chaos of the classroom. There are six pages of large text... Read More
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STRONGER RENT LAWS NOW" -- Newspaper Supplement Issued in Support of the Rent 2002 Campaign
[New York, New York]: [Allegro?], 2002. Near-fine. Toned with folds, a couple nicks, yellowing to top edge.. A large graphic newspaper supplement issued for New Yorkers to post in their windows in support of the Rent 2002 Campaign. The text reads, "STRONGER RENT LAWS NOW", with a directive at the top that reads, "Please post this in a window where it will be visible from the street on or after Monday, May 13". The Rent 2002 campaign's goal... Read More
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We Are Buckeyes Who Are You
Akron, Ohio: The B.F. Goodrich Company, 1900. Very good. Light dust soiling.. Promotional booklet for the B.F. Goodrich Company, producers of rubber goods for all purposes including automobiles, druggists and surgeons, sports balls, insulation, and mechanical rubber goods. Features an illustration of the buckeye tree on the front cover, and proudly proclaims the state's popular chant ("We Are Buckeyes Who Are You?") as a means of appealing to the company's home state customers. Includes illustrations of rubber goods... Read More
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Green's Diary Almanac, 1882 and 1883
Woodbury, New Jersey: G.G. Green, 1882. Good. Toned with short tears, light spotting, staples defective/gathering loose.. The 1882 to 1883 issue of Green's Diary Almanac, advertising cure-all patent medicines sold by G.G. Green. George Gill Green (1842-1925) served as a surgeon in the Union army during the Civil War, and went on to start his wholesale drug business in 1867. Green was one of the most successful early patent medicine entrepreneurs, and built a successful clientele based on... Read More
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Squaw Man
[Boston, Massachusetts]: Hollis Street Theatre, 1906. Promotional pamphlet for the Boston run of "The Squaw Man", a 1905 Western stage play written by Edwin Milton Royle and starring William Faversham in the starring role. The basic premise follows an English Captain who buys a ranch in the American Old West, and falls in love with the daughter of a Native American leader. The marriage causes social strife, and ultimately leads to her death. He returns to England with his... Read More
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Picnic Time" -- Advertising Women's Medicines to American Housewives
Lynn, Massachusetts: Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company, 1916. Very good. Dust soiling, toning, a couple short tears.. A c.1916 promotional booklet for Lydia E. Pinkham Medicine Company, makers of medicines and remedies specifically for women, homemakers and their families. Lydia E. Pinkham (1819-1883) was an American businesswoman who became well-known for marketing remedies for female ailments ranging from ovarian cancer, painful menstruation, and sterility to general "hysteria" and nervousness. The present booklet appeals to its target audience with... Read More
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Young America
Chicago, Illinois: American Colortype Co, 1920. Fair. Toning, short tears, rust staining from staples, leaves loose as a result. Modern tape repairs.. A color-illustrated booklet for children telling a meandering story of "boys being boys": playing soldier, racing homemade automobiles, and fishing. Makes a point of showing the boys as aspiring to be in the military when they grow up. Provides a good example of how gender roles permeated most aspects of life at this time, including (especially?)... Read More
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Copy Book of Marie E. Merrill with Entertaining Cover Design -- Cheeky School Boys, Dunce Cap
Cambridgeport, Massachusetts: L.S. Learned's Manufactory, 1870. Good, extremities chipped/worn, lacking one leaf.. A manuscript copy book of a school girl named Marie E. Merrill, presumably of Massachusetts, notable for its humorous and well-designed cover illustration. The image depicts seven school boys, each with personality and expressiveness. One proudly displays his chalkboard art, while others smile and lean on each other. Note the boy wearing a dunce cap in the back, grimacing at the others free to fool around... Read More
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The Great Fox Chase!" -- Political cartoon/optical illusion poking fun at 1865 Mayor of Philadelphia race
[Philadelphia], 1865. Very good to near-fine. Light toning.. A humorous poem and optical illusion poking fun at the 1865 mayoral election in Philadelphia, in which publisher Morton McMichael defeated his opponent, Democrat Daniel M. Fox, by several thousand votes. The poem begins, "On the morn of a fine October day, A FOX started out for a very short 'run'..." and ends with McMichael hunting and catching his opponent. The image to the left of the poem shows two... Read More
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Domestic Animals
New York, New York: McLoughlin Bros, 1880. Good. Dust soiling, toning, short tears, worming to leaves.. An attractive McLoughlin picture book for new readers, featuring large full-page color illustrations of domestic animals. Each animal is described in detail. They include: the cat; the sheep; the calf; the cow; the dog; and the horse. Single vol. (9" by 10.75"), pp. [12], printed in two columns, with six (6) inserted illus. plates, including two printed on inside of each wrapper,... Read More
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Large Birds
New York, New York: McLoughlin Bros, 1886. Very good. Short tears, light dust soiling, wrappers damaged.. An attractively illustrated book on large birds for new readers published by McLoughlin as a part of their "Bird and Animal Series" for children. Includes six (6) full-page in-text illustrations depicting different categories of birds, which are discussed in their own sections. The categories are: ducks and swans; web-footed birds; birds of prey; parrots and their cousins; running birds; and long-legs and... Read More
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Rip Discovers Radio
New York, New York: Radio Corporation of America, 1939. Very good.. An illustrated booklet promoting the Radio Corporation of America. Features a story about Rip Van Winkle waking up from a long sleep to discover the technological wonders of radio and RCA. Through his eyes, readers are treated to an overview of what radio is, how the technology works, and how RCA is at the forefront of innovation. Includes photos of RCA in action, from an NBC Studio... Read More
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The Noah's Ark Primer
Syracuse, New York: G.C. Hanford Mfg. Co, 1913. Good to very good. Light soiling, extremities rubbed.. An interesting example of advertising to children: an illustrated ABC book based on animals from the story of Noah's Ark, with the goal of advertising Hanford brand family medicines. Each letter features a different animal, with a rhyme and illustration. The letters are interspersed with pitches for the brand. Has the whole alphabet printed in the inside of the upper wrapper. Single... Read More
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