The Ghost Story

I really love the deep colors of this old illustration and the detail of the room. The image was used to sell cough syrup around 1860. Hard to believe this is around 150 years old and it still looks so rich and not faded.

It came to me torn, but from this blog I found what it says at the top:

The Ghost Story - "The moral of this, the Sixteenth Card of our Series, is that, if young ladies would avoid creating a scene, similar to the one of the artist, Mr. R. W. Buss, gives us in this admirable picture, they had better forego reading ghost stories at bed-time."

Turns out Mr R.W. Buss is a pretty big deal in London history. He illustrated some Dicken books. Here is more info on Robert William Buss.

The medicine that this illustration was for Dr. Jayne's Tonic Vermifuge. Dr Jayne's Family Medicine was a long lived and very successful company. It was around from 1843-1930 and they spared no expense getting the best illustrators for their products.

Wonderful illustrations for packagaing and advertising insured that people would be more likely to remember the product, even people who couldn't read and it also meant people would keep your illustrations for a long time - which is why we still have them now. People tucked them away and really valued them - even torn. I like that this is torn - it adds something to it.

I often don't know when I start these posts where they will lead. It is so neat to be able to learn more about these items instantly. Thanks, internet. I love you.

Oh and speaking of love. I've added some new vintage Valentine finds to The Cedar Chest shop. More to come soon.

Etsy thecedarchest

homebody

I spent most of the weekend home. I love being home. I am a total homebody. I mostly worked, cleaning and organizing. Still, it was great, especially with the windows open and the sound and the smell of the rain outside.

My love of being home is one of the reasons I like this 8x10 photograph in my collection so much. I also really love seeing the insides of people's houses in old photographs and the forties are one of my favorite times for designs and textiles. This photograph looks like it was taken in the late 40's or early 50's. Unfortunately there is no writing on the back. Click to see bigger image.

Neat Trick

to the beach

I am off for the rest of the week to the Oregon Coast. The place has no internet or tv. I am excited to read and stare at the ocean - although I may have withdrawls...

This is my first attempt at a layout with my old images. The background is a photo I took of the ocean in November.

Hope you have a wonderful week.

Lovely Valentines

I just love this charming vintage valentine postcard. It is in such great shape and there is no writing on it. Seems almost brand new. Someone must of held on to it for years because they just thought it was pretty. Same reason I am holding on to it.

I hope you all have a lovely Valentines weekend!

There is a little blog party that occurs every Friday called Postcard Freindship Friday hosted by The French Factrice. I don't often get the time on a Friday night to take part, but I can tonight. Click on the envelope below to visit the French Factrice blog where you can see other postcard blogs who have posted for Postcard Friday.

January Days

Today has been sunny and about 55 degrees. It has been like this for a couple of weeks. Plants are starting to bloom. Little buds are sprouting from my hydrangea and a friend actually saw a daffodil the other day.

This is the earliest false spring I have ever heard of. I know there is more winter for Portland, but it sure doesn't seem interested in showing up.

Here are some photos I got recently of a very different January in this town. This was on 114th and Fremont in January of 1954. The woman in the photo is Ruth May.





The address and name of the woman is on the back of the photos. I couldn't find the same exact house (as often happens the address numbers have been changed a bit), but I think this is the street view now.



View Larger Map

Thats some crazy snow. Although I am not looking for this kind of weather, a little more winter would be fine for me.

Meet The Ferns

I am not sure what the photographer was thinking here. These portraits were taken by E D Bennett in Hillsboro, Oregon. I love the ferns, but they do look like they are consuming those poor folks. These were probably taken around the late 1890's.