COLLECTING TIPS
Occasional Articles on Collecting Antique Prints and Maps, Illustrated Books,
Vintage Magazines and Ephemera
Popular History: looking at 20th century Asia through printed ephemera
Brightly colored tourist brochures, train schedules, maps, political broadsides: items that we use in our daily lives but throw away once they have fulfilled a discrete utilitarian function...these are wonderful sources for exploring "history on the ground," the interests, attitudes and preoccupations of persons who are “at home” in a particular society or merely “passing through” as visitors. It is only quite recently that the richness of this type of material as tools for cultural study has been widely recognised by libraries, researchers and collectors alike.
Elisabeth Burdon of oldimprints.com (of Portland, Oregon, USA) will be joining her sister Sally and mother Barbara Burdon at Asia Bookroom on Saturday June 19th to present a selection of her stock of printed travel-related ephemera and illustrated maps.
Some comments on ephemera...
"Printed ephemera, that body of material which was produced for a one-time, limited purpose, can be understood generally as transient documents of everyday life. It is often compelling visually, speaks with a particular directness while at the same time contains multiple layers of meaning." (The Huntington Library Ephemera Collection)
"Ephemera is the plural form of the Greek word ephemeron...Literally it refers to something that lasts through the day...Among several deinitions of ephemera that Maurice Rickards proposed, the one that has gained widest currency is 'the minor transient documents of everyday life'...its shortcomings were as obvious to him as they are to others; for example, not every item of ephemera can be regarded as minor or even transient. What can be said of this definition is that it has stood the test of time better than any other. Collectively, however, the entries in this encyclopedia define ephemera even more effectively, since they include manuscript and printed matter, records of the past and present (both humble and prestigious), items designed to be thrown away (bus tickets) and to be kept (cigarette cards), and documents of considerable importance (at least to the individual concerned) through to the most trivial. Such variety - the very lifeblodd of literate societies - can hardly be encapsulated in a few words." (Michael Twyman's introduction to The Encyclopedia of Ephemera by Maurice Rickards, Routledge, 2000).
"While a struggle for a viable definition of ephemera continues, hobbyists and researchers who work with it agree that printed ephemera is among the richest primary resources for information on cultural, economic, and social customs and traditions. In fact, in addition to complementing manuscript and printed resources for research, in many cases these materials may be the only source of much needed information." (
Publish & Perish:Printed Ephemera and Social History by Richard M. Kolbet. Books at Iowa 55 (November 1991). University of Iowa. )
"The information carried by the ephemeral items can add significantly to the data the historian draws from other sources. Ephemeral material has intrinsic and evidential value, but not enough to enable the researcher to reconstruct completely a slice of institutional history. The historian needs to consider a variety of other sources. Only in conjunction with these sources can the ephemeral material acquire outstanding research meaning." (A Bit of History in the Library Attic: Challenges of Ephemera Research by Hermina G. B. Anghelescu, in Collection Management, 1545-2549, Volume 25, Issue 4, 2001)
A SELECTION OF EPHEMERA RELATING TO 20TH CENTURY ASIA
A Chinese Appeal to Americans.
CHINA - SHANGHAI - SINO-JAPANESE WAR ATROCITIES)
RRP: $285.00
Broadside, 11 x 8 1/2 inches. Light scattered foxing, tiny tear at upper edge, centrefold and other light creasing and folding. An extraordinary broadside published by the Chinese Patriotic Society alerting the citizens of the United States to Japan
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AAF Cloth Map - Asiatic Series. NJ50 Pei-P'ing (Peking) / NJ51 Ryojun.
CHINA / MANCHURIA - SURVIVAL / ESCAPE SILK CHART)
RRP: $135.00
Two maps, printed back to back on one silk sheet 24 1/2 x 24 1/2 inches, FULL COLOR, folded as issued. Very good condition. This is a "survival map" or "escape map" compiled for the U.S. Army Air Forces; these light-weight "silk maps" (usually of a
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Tokyo Seisoku Shinzu. New Map of Tokyo.
JAPAN - TOKYO - MEIJI ERA)
RRP: $695.00
Copperplate engraved pictorial map with color woodblock, sheet 19 3/4 x 28 1/4 inches, folded as issued to 6 1/2 x 4 inches. Very good condition. There is a handwritten Japanese inscription on the outside front panel. An attractive map of the new
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THE WEST SHORE MAGAZINE published in Portland Oregon 1875-1891
The
West Shore Magazine was established in Portland, Oregon in 1875 by Leopold Samuel, then in his mid twenties and recently arrived in Portland. During the some 17 years of publication from 1875 to 1891 Samuel constantly reinvented the magazine. It was launched as a literary magazine with small wood engraved illustrations, but as the region’s potential for population and economic growth began to be realised, the magazine took on the nature of a booster publication, promoting the Pacific Northwest. Under the auspices of the Oregon Board of Immigration Commission this local magazine had a circulation with national and international reach, being distributed as far afield as Europe and New Zealand.
Samuel wrote in March 1886 as the magazine was relocating to “commodious new headquarters”: “in August, 1875…it was.. an eight-page sheet with few illustrations; now it is a handsome magazine of from forty-eight to eighty pages, profusely illustrated with original engravings. Then the work was done by contract, the circulation was small, and the office was in the proprietor’s hat; now it occupies the large quarters just described, employs a great many men, and reaches every corner of the United States…The magazine is not a local publication in the sense in which the term is applied to newspapers. Though published in Portland, it has devoted its space impartially to the whole Northwest, and in building itself up has had the satisfaction of being one of the most powerful agents in building up the country as well.”
While the magazine’s articles are rich in information about the region, the quantity and quality of the striking and informative images of the region make it a truly exceptional documentary resource. Starting with small black and white wood engraved illustrations, lithography was added in 1878, color lithography in 1886 and finally there was a change to halftone photoengraving in 1891. Just a few months after this last change the magazine ceased publication.
© 2009 Elisabeth Burdon
CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS & CHROMOS: FINE ART FOR THE MASSES
The 1800s saw the development of lithography (printing from a stone matrix) to fill the demands of a rapidly expanding consumer market; the chromolithograph, a lithograph printed in colors, became widely used to reproduce “fine art” paintings or watercolors for that market. At its highpoint, the “chromo” is a technological marvel, involving an advanced knowledge of color and exact registration necessary to reproduce an image using as many as 20 (or more) stones. Unlike the tinted lithograph, which involves two or three stones, with the image printed from one stone, with the chromolithograph the image is built up in color from the application of many different stones. In his detailed and fascinating book “The Democratic Art: Pictures for a 19th-Century America” (Boston: David R.Godine, 1979) touches on many aspects of the chromo and its production in 19th century America.
The oleograph is a term used to refer to chromolithographs printed with oil inks on paper embossed to imitate the look of canvas. The print might be glued to a stretched canvas and varnished so that it could be displayed in the parlor in exact imitation of a more expensive oil painting.
Chromolithography was widely used in the mid to late 19th century for all kinds of publications, including illustrations for books and magazines. The term “chromo” is most commonly used to apply to prints individually published for decorative display. The fascination with chromos is apparent from the articles published in popular magazines of the period giving detailed information on the printing process, including an article from The Christian Weekly of 1874 and one from Demorest’s Family Magazine of 1892. (Please check back soon for excerpts of these articles)
Collecting Paper Ephemera: travel brochures, railway guides, cruise line booklets, railroad maps, trade catalogs and so much more
Paper ephemera (as in "ephemeral" or "transient") covers a very wide range of printed material: from theatre tickets to luggage labels to travel brochures to merchandise catalogs, the lists goes on and on. Usually printed in large quantities, meant to be used and then discarded, this area of printed material is often much harder to find than more conventionally "prized" items such as books. It can make a fascinating area of collecting in and of itself, or give breadth to a collection of varied materials on a particular theme (for example items from a particular railroad line). While pre-1900 material has for some time been sought after, museums and libraries are increasingly aware of the special qualities of 20th century ephemera, and using it in museum exhibits and adding it to special collections. This material is often very graphically inviting, and conveys in word and image the world of popular culture of the day, with all its nuances. This area of paper memorabilia has always particularly appealed to me, as it encompasses so well my twin interests: great graphic design and insight into different cultures and times.
Some types of paper ephemera that make for fascinating collections are:
trade or merchandise catalogs: if you have a vintage clothing collection, add some fashion catalogs to the mix!
transportation related ephemera: booklets and brochures from railroads, cruise lines, carriage or automobile makers (also included in the trade catalog category), aviation and airline pamphlets
travel brochures and guide books
ephemera with maps: usually also falling into the two categories above ... The maps are often graphically rich bird's eye view or pictorial maps
vintage posters: produced to advertise a product, be affixed where they can be seen and then thrown away: browse our current selection of
Vintage Posters
Often ephemera will fold out into large and stunning posters and maps. These can be framed to striking effect. If the folds are a concern, consider having the item linen backed. This is a reversible mounting method (with acid free materials) commonly used with posters but which can also be used with folded pamphlets and brochures to make the folds all but invisible and enhance the graphic potential.
COLLECTING VINTAGE FORTUNE MAGAZINES & FORTUNE MAGAZINE COVERS
Fortune magazine, the premier American business magazine, was founded by Henry Luce in 1929 (with its first issue in February 1930) to celebrate American business: "American business has importance - even majesty - so the magazine in which we are able to interpret it will look and feel important - even majestic." Sparing no expense, he recruited the premier journalists, graphic designers and illustrators and created a magazine which is in the top ranks of twentieth century magazines in both content, graphic presentation and printing quality. The stunning covers are collected for their striking graphics; we prefer to offer the complete magazines to collectors so as to preserve the intrinsic interest and value of the magazine. If you would like to display the cover of the magazine you might consider having the whole magazine framed - this way you get the best of both worlds! Well known illustrators who did covers for the magazine include: T.M. Cleland, Ernest Hamlin Baker, Diego Rivera, F.V. Carpenter, Roger Duvoisin, Bertha Lum, Antonio Petrucelli, Norman Reeves, Joseph Binder. The most collectible Fortune magazine covers are from the early years of the magazine until the early 1940s. While there are many superior covers from the war years many of them have a more serious note, and were indeed excellent propaganda images. The magazine size was reduced due to the paper shortage during World War II and after the war there was more emphasis on content and less on lavish presentation.
Please
browse our Fortune Magazine List.
