…that I’ve been enjoying recently.

Two by the author of an interesting sounding upcoming book “Take me to the Water: Immersion Baptism in Vintage Music and Photography 1890-1950” (Dust-to-Digital, April ’09)

Dull Tool, Dim Bulb: “A blog about surface, wear, form and authenticity in art, antiques and photography. Dull tool and dim bulb were the only swear words my father ever used”; with a recent post on Hobo Nickels that has me checking the pockets of every patched up coat I find in a thrift store.

and

Gals Gams and Garters: documenting–one clipping at a time–the scrapbook of a leg and garter aficionado that was dumpster-dived in Virginia in the 60s.

Also collector and archivist Vincent Lexington Harper has built a digital gallery of vintage Asian advertising art called Old Orient Museum. It features tons of vintage tobacco and pin-up advertising (much of which was destroyed during China’s Cultural Revolution). This site’s a little Flash heavy for my taste (though I love the soundtrack) but it’s a rich resource.

I’ll add all three of these to my sidebar link lists.

Posted on eBay right now, I have a 1940s educational booklet on the dangers and consequences of unsafe driving published by the Travelers Insurance Company.

It’s filled with beautiful painterly graphics portraying the aftermath of car accidents, plus short fiction, cartoons, charts, statistics and more.

Here are some of my favorite images from the booklet, together with a handy explanation of “The Danger Unit”.

Lest We Regret: 1, 2, 3, 4.

Found this set of showgirl publicity photos a few weeks ago at the BrooklynFlea. Not sure if they’re for a stage production or film. I need to do some research but I’m running out the door so I’ll just post and hope somebody recognizes a face. (click for larger versions)

Signature looks like “J. K. Milligan” and maybe “L.A.” or “U.A.”

Any Vaudeville/Broadway buffs have any clues?

I picked up a nice batch of c1900 advertising cards at the BrooklynFlea this weekend. Looks like they were removed from a scrapbook. Would have liked to see the whole book intact for context but it would have been out of my price range. Here’s what I got:

A patent medicine card with the text:

“Catarrh” sounds ominous but it’s just congested sinuses and the wave of mucus I’ve been surfing all week. From now on I have Catarrh.

Next this Cortecelli Knitting Silk card with sewing elves.

This woman below is currently using: Dr. Scott’s Electric Corset, Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair-Brush, Dr. Scott’s Electric Hair-Curler, and Dr. Scott’s Electric Tooth Brush.

She has that stalk in her mouth so she doesn’t bite off her tongue.

Lastly this McCormick card for “Right Hand Machines”:

The wisdom of using a severed hand to advertising harvesting equipment is a bit questionable but it’s a nice card anyway.

Dear Sir:

May we ask you whether the epidemic of INFLUENZA and DISTEMPER has appeared in your community? If so, are you convinced that DISTEMPERINE has no equal for this peculiar ailments?

Someone was obviously convinced because the order blank is torn off.

If you’d like this item send me an email. I’ll provide contact info and you’ll send me an SASE. I’ll place the item in whatever envelope I receive so make sure you provide appropriate protection for the item and sufficient postage to cover the weight.