A. Edward Newton, one of the great American book collectors suggested, when people asked him how to buy books as an investment, that they buy the best of whatever they happened to like. That way, he said, if the market didn’t behave as expected and that collection did not appreciate, they’d at least haveContinue reading “Limited!”
Tag Archives: Postcards
Another Halloween Tradition
“Aren’t you that bloke who was JUST complaining about people telling you every single year that the original jack-o-lantern was a hollowed-out turnip?” Yes, curried candy corn, but I have to see those videos. I don’t have to read my own blog. MY Halloween refrain, while repetitive, at least adds a little varietyContinue reading “Another Halloween Tradition”
Old Maids and Other Unnecessaries
Once again, dear reader, your faithful bloggist has come through. Prompted by the seventh online expert in one week to tell me that the original jack-o-lantern was carved from a turnip (something they told us every year in grade school, thank you all) I looked up one or two questions no one was tellingContinue reading “Old Maids and Other Unnecessaries”
Women of Mystery
I sometimes come to you, my army of readers, when I am confused by a postcard. This is done on the theory that everyone across the Interwebs has information, or at least an opinion. When some point in a joke or a picture has me puzzled, I bring my troubles to you, and notContinue reading “Women of Mystery”
Hey, I’m New At This
Not so long ago in this space, we considered the jokes swapped between residents of the rural parts of the world and those who lived in the city. This town vs. country debate is ancient and widespread, and COULD be considered part of the basic human belief that the people who live the wayContinue reading “Hey, I’m New At This”
The Jaspers and the Rubes
We have mentioned, in an exploration of joke archaeology hereintofore, that jokes made by one group of people against another were regarded as being in poor taste as early as three generations ago, while others continued without a lot of controversy. The town/country joke went on for centuries (Aesop covered t) but it hasContinue reading “The Jaspers and the Rubes”
Woman’s Work?
As you will of course recall from our last thrilling episode, we were considering what vintage postcards had to show us about women in the workforce, especially in jobs traditionally associated with men. The main conclusion we drew from the examples was that the postcard artists were less interested in reviewing current societal normsContinue reading “Woman’s Work?”
Man’s Work?
The First Golden Age of Postcards, when the fad was at its peak and millions of these little analog text messages were selling every year, roughly from 1907 to 1914, saw a growing public notice of the movement of women into the work force. Women had always kind of BEEN part of the workContinue reading “Man’s Work?”
Pooling Our Imaginations
This was a popular postcard when I listed it for sale. I was grateful that potential buyers were interested, but mildly confused. It is not ESPECIALLY old (that it advertises cable available in each room makes it younger than I am, so it’s practically brand new). And then I spotted it. It wouldContinue reading “Pooling Our Imaginations”
Calling Up the Past
One of the saddest bits of joke archaeology is running across fossils: jokes which were once alive and kicking, quivering with excitement at the laugh that would be forthcoming when the audience heard it for the eighty-third time. Sometimes they do not realize they have been told for the last time, and wait inContinue reading “Calling Up the Past”
Blogsy Babbles 