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| Truly, vintage ephemera just seems to find me. Ok, I admit I am open to the possibility....I just love old paper. Want to see some? |
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| You can never really have too much wonderful old paper, can you? |
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| September seems to be peak ephemera month.....There is this sale a friend puts on up in Marin and the Vintage Paper Fair (we all know how much I love that one) and the SF Public Library Big Book Sale ...... |
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| Old book parts anyone? |
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| Tarot cards |
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| And, let's not forget, the fabulous SFPL has an outdoor library "Steps" sale every week -- $1 for any book your heart desires. I have posted a lot of photos of these on Instagram #tornandtatteredbooks (PamelaArtsinSF) |
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| My favorite spot for .25-cent postcards and this year I found eight passports. I will show you those in another post -- they are amazing. I cannot wait to alter them. |
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| Look at these beauties! I collect them for the beautiful cursive writing, the stamps and the postmarks. |
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| No Sharpie cancellations here. |
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| That cursive.... |
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| This one I didn't get -- it was in a set of six called "Spy Passports" and the guy had a bunch of UK passports with all different information -- only $600.00 for you to bring home.... |
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| Peek-a-boo! They just don't make postcards like they used to. People keep asking me where I get ephemera.... Maybe I should be a PERSONAL SHOPPER? You think? Look around for library book sales, old foreign language dictionaries, 1950's National Geographic magazines, thrift shops, estate sales....ask your old relatives if they have any stacks of old letters in the attic...... The Big Book Sale is THIS WEEK -- Wednesday thru Sunday and everything is $1 on Sunday (always good stuff to be found). So, if you're near SF, you can go. Anyone want to go with me? A few more old books just might find me this week... SEND GOOD MAIL -- GET GOOD MAIL |
I wish vintage ephemera like yours found me!
ReplyDeleteTry to put the word out, Jewels -- tell all your family and friends you are looking for old ephemera and you might get lucky.
DeleteSometimes it ends up on my doorstep even. I have some cool neighbors.
ReplyDeleteTofu -- same with me. One neighbor closed up a friends estate and left a bag of incredible letters and envelopes on my front steps.....treasure! Aren't we lucky?
DeleteYou are immensely lucky to find all these goodies. I can't be so lucky. I've tried, and no one has anything old to give me. I did score a few 1970s Women's Day magazines from a lady in the neighborhood who was moving, but the most I'll get out of them are the old ads that are so different from today. You, on the other hand, have access to so much more. I'm always in awe of what you bring home. And to score old passports must have been a huge find. I am in awe of those postcards, too!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth -- I am lucky that we have events like the Vintage Paper fair because I never find anything in the thrift shops here....finding passports is difficult and they are real $$$$ on eBay so I was thrilled to find a bunch of them at the VPF. Someone beat me to first selection so I missed out on a few but I'm happy...and of course one thing we really do have are book sales....
DeleteThis paper is too yummy for words. Lust. Lust.
ReplyDeleteLOL.....I know that feeling.....but I didn't buy ALL that beautiful paper.....
DeleteYour finds are always amazing!
ReplyDeletethanks...I think I have a pretty good eye....at least for what I like...
DeleteYES! I'd be thrilled if you took on the title of 'personal shopper' and I would be first in line to sign you up as mine. Nothing here on the east coast to compare to what SF has. LOVED looking at your photos of the treasures...thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you enjoyed a look! I have thought of curating ephemera collections and selling them but it seems there are a lot of people doing that already...
DeleteTerrific! Thanks Pamela I always enjoy your posts! ♥
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jacki! You are so nice to comment.
DeleteYou have a great stash! I've had good luck around these parts finding the types of ephemera I like, but I've never seen any old passports for sale.
ReplyDeletePassports are tough...I have found them at the Vintage paper fair twice and three different friends gifted me with one from each -- and I used my own expired passport too...
DeleteI am lucky in one respect. I have a friend who haunts flea markets and sometimes she sends me cool stuff. I don't have the patience to stand in the sun or walk around looking at piles of stuff. You must be a very patient person!
ReplyDeleteWell....our sales are indoors...and SF isn't hot....and I really only go to the VPF and Library sale and my friend;s sale.....I stock up for the whole year...
DeleteSo... personal shopper... not a bad idea! I love all the old postcards and the Chinese/Japanese paper stuff. I would send you out to hunt for those beauties.
ReplyDeleteI love the Japanese/Chinese papers too.....and of course, the postcards.....we agree!
DeleteIt makes me happy to know that all of this stuff doesn't end up in a landfill but instead is given the opportunity to get a new life as art or go to someone who will appreciate it.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! The thought of old books and paper in landfill kills me....but as long as artists are around that hopefully will not happen....
DeleteI think I recognize those bundles in the first pictures. I forgot the lady's name. Is it Eleanor? I hope to see her at one of our local book fair's in October.
ReplyDeleteYep -- it is Eleanor's sale but it MAY be her last one....I hope not...
DeleteOh my! I think I need to move to SF.
ReplyDeleteThat would be VERY nice!!!!!!
DeleteLove, love it all and I am so happy that some of it has come to me as Good, very good mail!
ReplyDeleteNina -- at long last it did....so happy you enjoyed the mail.....
DeleteWhat a fabulous array of papers and ephemera ! Do you use all of these Pamela? I would have a hard time using them and end up hoarding! heehee
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for sharing!
Jackie
Well, I do use everything but not always immediately...I like to have a stash of various ephemera so when I think up a new project i can shop my own stuff and get to work......I do think, in general, I want to USE what I bring home and not just have it sit around.....
Deletedelicious post as always, dear Pamela, just love it ALL!! xo
ReplyDeleteAren't you nice? Thanks for the comment and I am glad you enjoyed the eye candy....
DeleteThanks for another show and tell of some amazing PAPER goods! I can almost smell it. I have been pretty lucky to find some stuff at estate sales or when the antique malls have their sidewalk sales or super sales. I just scored a ton of vintage postcards and tucked in the back were a lot of old envelopes and stamps (many stamps not cancelled, so I can use!). I also got a lot of $1 record albums so I can cut up the cardboard cover for postcards. See you in the mail!
ReplyDeleteGarci -- yay!!!! comments!!! Both came through and thank you for the effort.
DeleteThanks for the show and tell of your wonderful PAPER goods! THe cursive writing is always my favorite. I usually find my good stuff through:
ReplyDeleteSwaps on Swap-bot
Instagram sellers
Estate sales
Antique stores when they have their sidewalk sales and super sales (stuff is really marked down)
I got a big box of vintage postcards and tucked in the back, there were old envelopes, stamps and even many uncancelled stamps that I can use! I also picked up several $1 or less record albums that I will be cutting up the cardboard covers for postcards! See you in the mail.
Thanks for trying with the comments, Garci. It worked this time. SF doesn't seem to have any good junk or antique shops....but we have special events like the Vintage Paper Fair. Sounds like you really scored with with the old envelopes and stamps and postcards -- fun!!!!
DeleteWhat a fabulous set of pics! All that lovely paper! Those tarot cards are so cool....thanks for posting and making me drool! 😂
ReplyDelete