Sunday, November 28, 2021

Queensboro Bridge Plaza, Long Island City, NY ca. 1913


I still enjoy finding postcards with streetcar scenes, and even more so when they are in New York City. Long Island City holds a special place in memory for me. I worked there once, and for a time lived in nearby Greenpoint, Brooklyn.


I've never seen this brand or logo before: L&V, Famous Throughout The World. Published by Bergman and Pinkus, Astoria, Long Island (actually, Queens, and Astoria is right next door to L.I.C.) Printed in United States. At first I thought the smudged date was 1919; but the last "9" began to look like a "3."

Dear Jo: Here I am at home, arrived yesterday. Feel fine but am still weak and must take care, of course. Love to all, Teddy.







 

Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Sunday, November 7, 2021

Quacky Doodles and Danny Daddles, 1916-1918, Schoenhut


Postcard photograph by Jackson Goff, copyright Pelican Publishing. The book is by Rose Strong Hubbell with illustrations by Johnny Gruelle of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy fame. Although P.F. Volland is credited on the back of the postcard, that company is apparently the publisher of the book; Schoenhut is the toymaker consistently cited as the creator of the Quacky family of wood toys.

A Theriaults auction description for a complete set of six wooden ducks: 

Schoenhut, inspired by published works by P.F. Volland illustrated by Johnny Gruelle, circa 1920; included is an early advertisement for the books and the ducks which notes that they "never lose their good humor".

The ducks went for $1,400.

The book itself is hard to find, and costly. But a reprint was issued a few years ago. Here is an image of the back cover, which describes the charm of the Quacky Doodles and Danny Daddles storybook characters: