In my search for 19th century ephemera, I usually buy
trade cards or
rewards of merit. But on occasion, other miscellany — like religious cards — catches my eye, particularly if it's gilt embossed or beautifully die-cut.
Scanning just doesn't capture the gold luster on this quaint card, which strikes me as looking Neo Gothic. That could be a good clue to its age.
As I look at the rest of the cards in this posting, I see that I'm most attracted to the amazingly fine die-cut laciness that was achieved in the 1800s. We don't see this fineness today, even with the technology of lasers.
I've always had a special affinity with this card of the angel, not only because it is one of the most handsome pieces of ephemera that I've collected, but also for the inscription on the back.
Have a happy weekend!
.
Hello Mark, Once again you have stunned us with the incredible craftsmanship of these old cards. Are these the size of cdv's? Some of them, especially the first one, look like the old album fillers, meant to be displayed with the family photographs. By the way, to which Strawberry Hill are you referring--somehow I can't imagine Horace Walpole passing out religious cards.
ReplyDeleteYou were lucky to find the last one with the inscription. Finding a familiar name or date has a way of cutting through time and linking us with the past.
--Road to Parnassus
Hello, Jim,
DeleteThese cards are between 3" x 4" or 3" x 5", which is also the size range for most of my advertising trade cards. When I mentioned Strawberry Hill, I was thinking that the first card looked somewhat Gothic, not of Horace Walpole. Sometimes it helps to say exactly what one means, and I have edited the copy to reflect that!
Hi again, Another feature of these cards, not yet mentioned, is their amazing condition. Antique paper lace, being incredibly delicate and usually white, seems very fragile. The pristine nature of yours says a lot about your care and standards as a collector.
DeleteI started collecting these 40 years ago, Jim, when I could be very choosy and not worry about price. Today, even damaged cards are often overpriced, and it's harder to find pristine ones, but I still find worthies and still collect them.
DeleteThat is very true Mark. I recently purchased an old French missal and found quite a few inside that looked almost new although I knew they were at least one hundred years old. None however had the lovely lacy surrounds that you examples have.
DeleteI wonder if the lace is so delicate because it's both pressed AND cut? they really are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteAn astute observation, Stefan. They were indeed embossed and die-cut, and that's true of each of the cards after the first one. That first card, incidentally, is hand-colored.
DeleteDear Mark,
ReplyDeleteI've just come after a hard day's work and am now sitting back with a cup of tea, reading your post!
Those Victorian (and post Victorian) prayer and saint cards were used to keep important places in prayer books and missals. I also have some of them and like you wonder at the fineness and accuracy of the cutting around the edges.
How nice to have one with your name on the back - It is as though the priest gave it to you!
Bye for now
Kirk
Dear Kirk,
DeleteIt's interesting that you mention the religious card's use as a bookmark, because I've come across several cards when buying older books. I have some later Sunday School cards (circa 1900) which are more often lessons, almost like lithographed flash cards.
Just beautiful! They really do look like lace. Mark, what is the average size of these beauties? I love the simplicity of the French Christmas card.
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Hi, Loi,
DeleteThese cards are approximately 3" x 4", and much of my collection came from Victorian scrapbooks. Every-so-often I find one with a tiny pinhole, which tells me that it was used as wall decoration.
These little cards convey just how sentimental people were in the 19th century. They are beautifully made and you have shown them off perfectly by giving them a shadow edging. Yes, the last one was definitely meant for you.
ReplyDeleteYou have reminded me of Strawberry Hill which I visited a couple of years ago - I must do a post on it sometime as I have lots of photos.
As one reads these cards — and antique advertising, too — one does see how much we have changed. Today we're so much better informed, but in our worldly-wiseness, less inclined to fully appreciate the smaller things in life. Well, of course I don't include thee and me in that observation!
DeleteI would enjoy seeing your photos of Strawberry Hill; it's a place I've always wanted to visit!
Dear Mark, Rosemary said it best. Sentimental! I don't think that here is any of it left in this modern, computer instead of Letter writing world. Thank you for reminding us.
ReplyDeleteDear Gina - I'm late in answering this comment, as I was away from home all yesterday. It's ironic that the more interconnected we are by technology, the less intimate our relationships seem to have become.
DeleteIm attracted to the washed out colours of the cards and the detail in many of the images is really impressive.
ReplyDeleteIs that St Cahterine of Siena in the second last card? Its the lily that makes me think of her.
Hello, smr - I'm guessing that, because of the lily and the blue clothing, the image to which you refer is the Virgin Mary as a child. But there's no wording on the card, front or back, to verify that.
DeleteDear Mark,
ReplyDeleteThese are truly such beautiful cards, and so worthy of preserving! I love the quality of the colors and, of course, the fine pierced edges. I've received many prayer cards since my own childhood, and sadly, none are as beautiful as these. The modern ones I have are either cheaply printed with poor artwork, or plastic-coated, with no quality whatsoever.... Clearly, you've identified the Golden Age with your collection! Such a shame that fine printing tradition that your cards has gone: the fine craft only makes the prayers more special.
Thank you for another wonderful post, Mark!
Warm regards,
Erika
Dear Erika,
DeleteOne of the things that I realize as I look through my collection of ephemera, is that much more time was allotted for the creation of all forms of commercial art in the 19th century. While the computer is a marvelous tool, it has unfortunately fueled the stereotype that artists can and do just dash something off.
Best wishes,
Mark
These are wonderful, Mark. This is my first exposure to these sorts of cards - never knew they existed. I love the printing and rue the day computers began flattening everything out.
ReplyDeleteDear Yvette - When one looks at the care and craftsmanship that went into things that would today be very ordinary items, one can see how they must have captured the imagination — as they still do! Today we are bombarded with so much stimuli that we must quickly scan everything as it rushes by!
Delete