5 comments about Old-Fashioned Halloween Cards: 24 Cards.

1. I ordered this booklet of postcards for my boyfriend because he loves vinatge halloween postcards and other collectibles. I was surprised when I received this booklet because it has 6 pages with 4 postcards on each and they are perforated for easy removal and are very glossy. My only complaint is that I would want the postcards to be heavier stock i fear of them tearing or crumpling in the mail. I would recommend getting two of these books, one to tear out the cards and mail them to friends and family and the other to keep as a coffee table book. It will surely bring back memories of Halloween and keep your friends talking about old memories. I was very impressed with this buy as was my boyfriend. :-)I definetly recommend it!



2. These old-fashioned Halloween cards are spooktacular enough to make any recipient smile. A great way to say Happy Halloween in style!



3. If you like old fashioned Halloween graphics this book is for you. The format is made to allow you to tear out the cards. If you can bear to part with these gorgeous cards they can be send US mail. Or if you love Halloween as I do you will want to keep these to use as inspiration in costumes and perhaps decorating. Very pretty graphics.



4. I was thrilled when these arrived.
   They are so lovely I almost wish I had ordered another set to cut out and use while saving the other.
   The cards are a nice quality stock and have a shiny finish to them.
   The colors are bright and cheerful.
   I am beyond pleased.



5. 4 postcards per page, printed in beautiful rich color on heavy stock. perforations between cards - you will probably want to use a paper trimmer to get a nicer edge before using them. A nice variety of wonderful vintage halloween designs featuring children. great for postcards, or as decor!

5 comments about Wacky Packages.

1. I love and collected these cards as a child. They inadvertently informed my work as a toy designer and illustrator. I was not surprised when I learned the identity of the the artist was the future "Raw" publisher and pulitzer prize author and illustrator art spiegelman. I bought this and the second volume for my son on his 11th Birthday. I hope it encourages him to be irreverent and humorous with the ridiculous and over saturated world of products.The cover and layout of the book is very clever and well conceived.



2. This book is pure fun! I love it so much. It's a bargain price too. It's printed and put together very well. I think this book is one of the best things in the world. It's a treasure. It's a small hardcover book. The dust cover is made of the same waxy wrapping material they use for trading cards. It has some bonus wacky packages stickers inside the back cover. I paid much more for some books that I didn't like nearly as much as this one. I bought some wacky packages stickers when I was about 8 yrs old and I had a wacky packages t-shirt then too. I'm gonna start buying a bunch of wacky packages cards and things now that I have a lot of money to spend, which I didn't have as a kid. Product parodies will always be popular. I've seen lots of t-shirts with product parodies. Wacky packages rules! It's right up there with Ed Roth's rat fink artworks and other great pop culture things.



3. For the last 10 years I've been dreaming of a book just like Abrams' Wacky Packages archive. Like a lot of kids growing up in the 70s and 80s I had a huge collection of Topps branded sticker cards, from brightly colored and iconic-bordered die-cut movie and TV show sticker subsets, to the sets of beautifully painted parody sticker sets. My main focus was in collection Garbage Pail Kids, but when one looks back we wouldn't have had those without the many Wacky Packages sticker sets. Guys like Len Brown, Woody Gelman, Kim Deitch, Jay Lynch, Art Spiegelman, Peter Orens, Norm Saunders, Ray Hammond, and the Shorin Brothers, the Topps old guard as they were, were the equivalent to trading cards what the staff of MAD magazine was to humor comics, pumping out hundreds of hilarious and deftly rendered product parodies from the late 60s through to the late 80s.
   
   This Abrams coffee table book serves as a cleverly designed art book and an archive of the first seven Wacky Packages series. All of the paintings are presented one to a page and at about double the size of the original stickers in full color. The hardback book itself is smaller than most coffee table volumes (about the size of a standard DVD case), and is wrapped in a nostalgia inducing wax-paper dust cover that resembles a pack of the Wacky Packages stickers. This volume features an interview with Art Spiegelman and a forward by Jay Lynch, as well as some never-before-produced Wacky Packages stickers. It serves as an excellent way to flip though the stickers without having to spring for the long out of print original stickers on the secondary market.
   
   Abrams is also releasing a second volume, titled Wacky Packages New New New, which will feature all of the stickers from series 8 through 14. It's the perfect gift for anyone who loves sticker collecting, Topps, or sticker cards like Garbage Pail Kids, Weird Wheels, and the granddaddy of them all the Ugly Stickers from the 60s.



4. It is great to see these old memories revived. I remember collecting the first set of Wackies, as a kid, back in the late 60's (that same first set was re-released in 1973). A real blast from the past! So much of the history and culture of my age-group (those born between mid 1954 and the end of 1964) has simply fallen between the cracks. I would like to thank Art Spiegelman for bringing back something of our forgotten generation.



5. This is a great book that is done so well! Wonderful pictures of the sticker categorizes by each set that was issued. I grew up in the Wacky Packages era and remembered and had many of these stickers. It was fun going through them with my kids and pointing out the ones I had and seeing if they could figure out the real add/brand that they were spoofing. Some of the adds were a challenge for even my husband and I to figure out. This is a really well done book and great to have in our library!

5 comments about An Ounce of Preservation : A Guide to the Care of Papers and Photographs.

1. This is a very good reference for the novice archivist, especially one who is working with an organization of modest size that cannot engage a professional archivist. Would be strengthened by the addition of a section on what to archive.



2. This is one terrific book. Just what I needed to get started with my old photos and papers before it was too late to salvage them. Obviously, Mr. Tuttle (the author) knows his stuff. "My stuff" has been saved by his sage advice. Thanks, Mr. Tuttle.



3. As a guide book written specifically for lay persons, An Ounce of Preservation has an educational mandate. As such, it is compelled to offer well-researched and accurate information in all details. At the same time, it attempts to simplify a highly complex field to fit the format of a short booklet that can be understood by a reader who has never concerned himself with document preservation before. The main dilemma of this book becomes apparent at the point where these two goals meet: simplification versus accuracy - can both coexist? Some critical observations must be made that demonstrate how the author has compromised the accuracy of his text by falling into some of the traps of over-simplification.

   In the process of simplification, information must be excluded, and the choice of what to omit and what to highlight is not an easy one, particularly in view of the rich history of photographic processes. The guiding principle should be to describe foremost the processes most likely to be encountered by the family historian in his personal collection of historic documents. Unfortunately, Tuttle has decided to concentrate on less common processes. He mentions gelatin based black and white prints in only one sentence, and almost as an afterthought (p. 28), although this process accounted for the vast majority of all photographic prints for about 70 years. Collodion prints, though widespread and likely to be present in every album that goes back at least to the 1880s, are not even mentioned once. Rather, the author describes negatives in detail and even dedicates two sentences to albumen coated glass plates, which never abounded and are exceedingly rare today.

   Complex cause/effect relationships may become too difficult to describe in short paragraphs, but their simplification can easily lead to slight or great inaccuracies, as can be seen throughout the book. The use of parentheses as a space saving method of explaining a former term can lead to misunderstandings, as for example with the description of the calotype process, which "involved the application of silver iodide (a light-sensitive solution) to a sheet of paper..." (p. 24). Silver iodide may be light-sensitive, but it is not a solution, as Tuttle's wording implies. Silver iodide is in fact insoluble in water, and can thus only be formed on the paper fibres by the subsequent application of two aqueous solutions to the paper surface: that of potassium iodide and that of silver nitrate. Had the author formulated his explanation accurately, he might have written, for example: "...involved the precipitation of light-sensitive silver iodide on a sheet of paper". The use of chlorides was actually more common than that of iodides at that time.

   Next to shortening by exclusion of information, the author has chosen to use what he calls plain language - a term that indicates that he is avoiding complex language which the lay reader could not understand. In going down this path, Tuttle uses a terminology that implies that the issue at hand is really more complicated than he can expect the reader to grasp. One of the most used terms in this book is "pH-balanced", which is neither defined, nor used consistently in one sense. The true meaning of this term, which, incidentally, is not commonly used in conservation literature, remains elusive no matter how long it is contemplated. In An Ounce of Preservation it is used to describe any material that is archivally "good", but it does not, for example, differentiate between paper with an alkaline reserve (p. 15) and that which is pH neutral (p. 59). Should a family genealogist come to me as a trained conservator and ask if he should use "pH-balanced" paper to house his negatives, I could only respond with a blank look on my face. Tuttle misses the important opportunity in this and other cases to give his readers the adequate vocabulary to communicate on an appropriate level with professional conservators.

   On a positive note, the author has kept the chapter on repair and cleaning very basic (p. 63). The techniques he describes are among those that are considered standard preservation measures in the contemporary understanding of minimal intervention. Any complex treatment, Tuttle stresses, should only be carried out by a professional conservator. This makes it clear that many treatments can easily lead to greater damage if carried out lightheartedly. The inclusion of a description of the ethics and complexities of the work of a conservator as well as definitions of basic terminology might have been beneficial, however, as self-help books will often give the reader the impression that a do-it-yourself approach will always work.

   The absolute condemnation of the lamination of documents (pp. 45-46) brings up the concept of reversibility, which is fundamental (even if impossible to comply with) for the understanding and application of conservation treatments. Although the book does cover many sources of deterioration and gives hints on housing documents, the most important advice is missing: how to actually handle your papers and prints. The ground rules should be clearly stated at the beginning of the chapter on storage and care (p. 55): maintain a clean workspace, refrain from smoking, eating and drinking in the presence of important documents, and simply wash your hands before handling them. Humans, after all, are the greatest source of danger to documents.

   Despite the many small inaccuracies, omissions, and simply false statements, such as the definition of relative humidity in the glossary (p. 93), distributed throughout the book, An Ounce of Preservation does install in the reader a sense of appreciation for those old papers and faded photographs in the basement. This is an important achievement in itself. Apparently, an expanded second edition of this book is in preparation. One must hope that, prior to publication, Craig Tuttle will submit his manuscript to a paper conservator and photo historian for review, so that his book can advance from being 'recommendable with reservations and in view of the lack of alternatives' to 'wholly recommendable' from the conservator's point of view.




4. With no background in caring for old photos and papers, I was in a quandry over what to do with the box full of items left to me by my deceased uncle. I didn't have the money for a professional to refresh and repair the photos, many of which suffered from long years of neglect. So I went online in search of a publication that would tell me where to start. An Ounce of Preservation provided me, a true archival dummie, with the groundwork I needed to begin the restoration project. As I sent off for information from companies listed in the appendix of the book, I learned more and more, unti I now feel like a blooming expert! I have a great scrapbook of my uncle's photos that I can pass on to my grandchildren, and it's a scrapbook that takes care of the items instead of aiding in their destruction. Without all the easy-to-follow techniques and many, many leads for more information provided in the book, I doubt if I would have ever had the courage to tackle the job myself. And since I didn't have the money for professional help, all those precious items of family history would still be deteriorating away in my closet. I contacted the publisher (to find out how to contact the author) only to learn that a greatly expanded second edition of this book is in the works. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn the basics -- it was all news to me!



5. "An Ounce of Preservation" is more aptly described as a pamphlet which delivers only the most BASIC information that most people nowadays regard as common knowledge. The reader looking for practical help, such as what solution to use to clean a smudged photo from the twenties, will find very little to go by (no more than a three-sentence paragraph for the cleaning of old photos). This thin book might have been more successful if the author had limited his scope and treated his subject in more detail. As it is, it's a lot to pay for text that can be read in less than an hour.

3 comments about Halloween Romantic Art and Customs of Yesteryear.

1. Not quite as good as her second book: "Halloween Merrymaking," but still absolutely beautiful. The layouts and pictures of the Victoriana are crisp, clear and totally enchanting. There's only so much you can do with virtually the same poems and romantic prophesies, but who cares?



2. When I first got this book, I flipped through it and thought,"hey,where's the 'wish list' postcards(Winsch,etc.)?". After I started reading it I realised that the postcards shown were perfect in illustrating the subject matter in each chapter. Also, the "reason" for some of the unusual images (cabbage people, etc.) I had seen on Halloween postcards became clear. A fun and informative book.



3. Halloween in the United States wasn't always a children's trick-or-treat holiday. In the beginning of the 20th century Halloween was a time when young adults peered into the murky haze of things to come and used all manner of methods to try to prophesy their romantic futures. Parties were the rage where bobbing for apples wasn't just a game but a chance to search the omens found in apple seeds and peels. Auguries in candle flames, in pumpkins, seeds, nuts and mirrors all were employed by the curious. This wonderful book uses the illustrations of full-color vintage postcards that were the rage in the early 1900s to show the many delightful and quaint oracles that were consulted. It includes numerous Halloween poems and party ideas from a bygone era, even some super costume ideas that could be used today to stunning effect for a nostalgic Halloween celebration. The text is filled with detailed history about the customs of yesteryear and the abundant appeal of the postcard images, pictures of antique table favors and invitations is sure to delight. Do not miss out on this book if you love Halloween. It contains a forgotten and very charming aspect of Halloween and Americana that I found very enjoyable and I think you will, too.

3 comments about The Golden Age of Postcards Early 1900s (Identification & Values (Collector Books)).

1. All was as described. Very good service. The only minor problem was the length of delivery time. Order placed Jan 29, 2010, received Feb 27, 2010.



2. I both collect and sell postcard (just a beginner). The best part about this book are the illustrations--just wonderful. I wish there was more text is the only complaint I can think of.



3. Collecting post cards has been a beloved hobby and pastime from the very beginning of the American postal system and their 19th century introduction to an eager public. THE GOLDEN AGE OF POSTCARD'S identification and values for postcards from the early 1900s will prove an invaluable pick for any interested in pricing or acquiring such postcards, and is a recommendation for any library strong in collector's price guides. Color photos of cards are arranged by season and provide quick look-ups of prices and makers.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch

5 comments about Halloween Merrymaking: An Illustrated Celebration of Fun, Food, and Frolics from Halloweens Past.

1. As a fan of vintage Halloween images, I was excited to check out this book. By and large, it delivers on its subtitle of "(a)n illustrated celebration of fun, food, and frolics from Halloweens past". Like another reviewer, I was disappointed in the size of the illustrations. Vintage Halloween is all about the visuals and unfortunately, it is hard to get a good sense of the lovely artwork when they are shown in small detail. But other than that small complaint, Halloween Merrymaking does a lovely job of capturing the flavor of bygone Halloweens.
   
   I particularly liked the articles reprinted toward the back of the book - my favorite was the 1909 description of a "yarn" party that featured yarn as the star of the Halloween party. The lists of suggested menus from parties in the 1920s were very interesting, if not that illuminating without recipes, but even they gave a good impression of what adults and kids were enjoying during the early 20th century Halloween parties.
   
   I would say that this book will appeal more to the Halloween historian than the casual fan of vintage graphics or a would-be host looking for retro Halloween party ideas. Sure, you can glean some of both from this book, but the book felt a bit more about preserving the descriptions of by-gone celebrations and less about celebrating the event itself.
   
   Still, a great collection of some wonderful ways of celebrating Halloween.



2. I'll admit to being disappointed when this book first arrived (a couple of years ago now). I must not have paid very close attention to the details and was expecting something different. However, I came to enjoy reading about how Halloween was celebrated in its Golden Age.
   
   The one complaint I have about this book has been stated by other reviewers as well: the illustrations are too small! Many of the images would be SO much better if they were larger. (The desktop publisher in me also *cringes* at the page layout!) More pages with larger graphics would have resulted in a better book (and five stars from me).



3. We Americans tend to be somewhat near-sighted in our view of Halloween in thinking that our celebration of the day is relatively a modern fascination. And, in truth, Halloween has boomed in the past twenty years to become second only to Christmas in decorating and celebrating the season. As Diane C. Arkins shows in this wonderful book, however, Halloween has been widely celebrated for well over one hundred years and this book concentrates on what Arkins calls Halloween's golden age from the 1870's to the 1930's. The book is filled with hundreds of vintage photographs, illustrations, and magazine reprints from the period.
   
   Halloween was not the ghoulish, gory holiday that it is today, but rather a day of revelry when people would hold parties for adults as well as children. Throughout the book writers of the times dispense advice, squarely aimed at women, on how to throw a successful Halloween party. We begin with invitations with some classic examples of period artwork depicting pumpkins, witches or black cats. Showing far more thought, as well as sophistication, magazines even gave advice on what to write, often favoring catchy little rhymes.
   
   Halloween decorations became widely available during the 1910's and Halloween Merrymaking presents hundreds of photographs depicting these vintage decorations. Illustrations and photos show various themes of the times. Interestingly, many of these decorations are being recaptured these days by modern crafters. The fantastic crepe` paper and paper Mache decorations are a collectors dream!
   
   Party favors presented to children or adults were staples of Halloween get-togethers in the golden age. A popular idea of the 20's and 30's was "Jack Horner Pies" in which a centerpiece stood in the middle of the table with ribbons pulled to the end of the table, separating it into wedges, one for each guest. Within each wedge the hostess places small gifts or party favors such as fortunes, written in milk on paper so they would be invisible until held under a light, The fortune would hen be placed inside a walnut shell.
   
   The magazines of the era also offered advice on what to serve for your party and included such forgotten delicacies as Little Goblin Stuffed Eggs and Moon Sandwiches. The book even provides sample menus for different types of parties such as formal, informal, or children's. Next up is the entertainment with suggestions on music and dances and games, as well as advice on costumes. During the 20's and 30's occultism was extremely popular and the book offers numerous fortune-telling and divination games that people could play at their parties.
   
   Finally Arkins reprints several full, vintage articles on Halloween from magazines such as Woman's Home Companion, Woman's World, and Ladies Home Journal. You really get a sense after reading the book just how much Halloween was enjoyed back then without the rampant commercialism of today. This is a nostalgic walk back in time to an era of simplicity and fun. It's fun and educational to see how our grandparents and great-grandparents may have celebrated Halloween decades ago. Highly recommended!



4. Halloween Merrymaking: An Illustrated Celebration Of Fun, Food, And Frolics From Halloweens Past
   by Diane Arkins is a very fine year-round family or community library acquisition illustrating the Halloween celebration of fun, food and holiday partying. This is no repeat history: material from a range of the vintage party guides and magazines that guided hostesses in their party-giving endeavors is presented and showcased in a lively survey of festivities and small color photos.



5. A most thoroughly enjoyable book about Halloween. Wonderfully written and beautifully illustrated it takes you back to a bygone era of Halloween celebratons. A must have book for anyone who is interested in vintage Halloween.

No comments about The History of Printed Scraps.

5 comments about Old-Fashioned Christmas Postcards: 24 Postcards.

1. I like the postcards. I had a difficult time taking them out without messing up the other ones.



2. I wish I had thought about post cards before. They were all cute and enabled me to stay in touch with old friends without the expense of cards. Postage was a little cheeper too.



3. I got these Christmas postcards and was very pleased. First of all they arrived at my home quickly. Second, and most importantly, the postcards were very beautiful. Anyone who likes vintage pictures will love these. Also, in this economy sending postcards is less expensive for postage. Makes this deal doubly good. I got a lot of good comments on the postcards I sent out. Even if you dont want to send postcards out these are nice to just have to keep and look at.
   I give it a 5-star.



4. I knew they were postcards before I ordered -- I trade postcards with a lot of people so I was looking for some good seasonal cards. But these are just beyond tacky -- I suppose I should have known from the low price. The high gloss finish doesn't fit at all with the antique images printed on the cards. The cardstock isn't as heavy as I like my postcards to be, but it's passable. Also, the perforated edges look really bad when you separate the cards. Don't even think about getting these unless you have a good paper cutter to clean up the edges.
   
   These are going in the recyle bin, I think. Look elsewhere.



5. These are nice Christmas postcards. It is true that they are quite glossy. The images are great, everyone loved them, and I saved on postage costs and the waste of the envelope. I would buy them again.

4 comments about Old-Fashioned All-Occasion Cards: 24 Cards (Card Books).

1. I really love the old-fashioned all-occasion postcards. The quality is great and they are just beautiful. I hate to cut them out and use them but that is why I bought the card book, cheaper than individual cards at every holiday and less money for postage. I sent the two valentines to granddaughters last month and just mailed the St. Patrick Day cards today. A fantastic product that I recommend to anyone who likes postcards or anyone who just wants to save money on postage.



2. These are absolutely adorable. I love old vintage cards and these are great examples. They are so cute I almost hate to mail them out (but I will!)



3. If old post cards fascinate you, but you can't find or afford the now antique originals, then this is the book for you. Really well done reproductions.



4. This is a charming collection that invokes memories of a gentler time. The postcards feature holiday themes, most with sweet faced children and soft, cuddly animals. The patriotic cards (Memorial Day, President's Day, Fourth of July)are rousing and powerful. This is a delightful collection that will charm the recipient.

5 comments about Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking.

1. I borrowed from my library four other books on papermaking before I ordered this. I should have read this one FIRST! (Problem was, no library in our system would let it out on loan.) I would have bought fewer supplies and been less puzzled by techniques demonstrated in the previous books.
   
   Mr. Grummer may have written at length about some of the techniques, but the photos were excellent at demonstrating what he described. Thanks to his photos, I was able to build my own frame from scrap wood and screening I had on hand. The author's encouragement and humor kept the instructions interesting. And my first try at making paper was satisfying. I went on to experiment with paper-recycling combinations and produced 23 sheets, all different. Those sheets, in turn, were used in one of a kind Christmas gifts.
   
   The author did a fine job, not only explaining techniques, but giving the reader enough understanding to modify the techniques to suit individual needs and available supplies.



2. Grummer's Papermaking book is excellent. Lots of good instructions for getting started and lots of crative ideas to go for and incorporate. Great book. LC



3. Since the local craft store carries the Arnold Grummer supplies for papermaking, I decided to buy his book - Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide to Easy Papermaking. (Mr. Grummer also has a website.) The instructions in the book are very clearly illustrated by photographs. Many variations in colors and textures are shown. You'll need a frame set and cotton linter both available at the craft store, a blender and paper scraps. Easy to recycle old envelopes or paper (discard the black print which will turn the paper grey). Variations: Colored paper tints the pulp. Add dried flowers and leaves. Emboss wet pulp with brass stencil. Hot tip: When pressing out the excess water from the wet pulp, use a rolling pin!



4. There's an old adage that says, "Never judge a book by its cover."

   That was certainly true for me when I first looked at Arnold Grummer's Complete Guide To Paper Casting. My initial reaction to the cover (& many of the 'projects' was--How 70s can you get?

   Fortunately, I followed the adage's advice and read a few chapters. Result? I found a valuable addition to my how-to library.

   The authors (Arnold & Mabel Grummer) have created a work which is rich with detail. They offer techniques, tips, history, ideas & more in such an easy to read manner that whatever your interest &/or skill level, you will find yourself casting pulp before you know it.

   Saavy enough to recognize that many crafty types want to get started without reading 'War & Peace', the authors provide readers with a quick start-up in Chapter 2. I made my first paper cast within thirty minutes of reading the instructions--(took me twelve minutes to find the blender!)

   From that point on, I found myself enjoying (& learning) so much. I picked up a vocabulary without needing to consult a dictionary; began exploring additives & molds & generally having FUN with paper casting in ways I had not considered.

   With the current trend in paper crafts/arts, I heartily recommend this book to scrapbookers, altered-bookers & collagists. I also recommend it to anyone who has ever asked 'What If?'




5. I love this book. Arnold Grummer is fantastic. This book explains everything you need to know about paper, and making paper, in a very simple way. I especially love the beginning of the book where he gets into the technical aspects of what IS paper and why we can make our own. There are also many full-color samples of handmade paper that I found very inspiring. This book will keep you busy trying all the embellishment and inclusion techniques, too, including botanicals, pin drawing, and coloring. I'll be using this book for a long time, and I recommenend it to everyone.