R & D Beck Opticians, 1879

Copyrighted by Chas. W. Frost, 1879. Philadelphia opticians got the word out about their business through this charming trade card, measuring 2 and 1/2 by 4 inches.

And speaking of Philadelphia, Garth Lax is sending out e-mails about all there is to see and do in the city for those who arrive early for the convention August 17. Here's the Antiques edition:

2011  INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION                          LET  FREEDOM  RING !                                        Email # 2                                   ANTIQUING !!   Other than the Convention itself, there are few things more dear to a Paper Doll Collector's heart than Antique Shops. In Philadelphia, most of the Antique Shops are along "Antique Row" - - Pine Street, from 9th Street to 17th Street. Here, you'll find a wide variety of  antique shops everywhere you turn, each with the prospect of yielding that long-sought treasure; and the Antique Malls, brimming with multiple dealers. Let's look at a sampling.   At 936 Pine Street is M. Finkle and Daughter , America's premier sampler and needlework dealer, offering a large selection of 17th to 19th Century needlework, as well as period furniture and decorative accessories. Open Monday-Friday.   1102 Pine Street is the home of Antique Design, a direct importer of 18th and 19th century French and European antiques. There is also a large selection of country French furniture. Classic Antiques also carries an impressive line of mirrors and accessories.   At 1625 Pine Street is Antiques Showcase, with a concentration on Antiques and Interior Design. Open 9 - 5 Monday-Thursday   At 1922 Pine Street is Classic Antiques, a direct importer of 18th and 19th century French and European antiques. There is also a large selection of country French furniture. Classic Antiques also carries an impressive line of mirrors and accessories.   There are many others, of course, but one that you may find to be of particular interest is Deja Vue Collectibles at 1038 Pine Street. Deja Vue is a doll collector's paradise. There are dolls from your childhood, your mother's childhood, and your grandmother's childhood. They have Boyds animals; Disney toys and books; Little Golden Books; American Girl dolls, books, and paper dolls. Did you have a Raggedy Ann or Andy? A Holly Hobbie? A Toni doll? They are all here. Also Chatty Cathy, Shirley Temple, Madame Alexander, Ginny, Anne Geddes, Sweet Sue. If you go to Pine Street, don't miss Deja Vue. Open Tuesday-Friday 11 - 5; Saturday 11:30 - 5.   Pine Street is 9 miles from your Convention Hotel, a 20 minute drive.   Ah, but Philadelphia Antiques are not limited to Pine Street. There are other fine Antique Stores sprinkled around the city. Here are a few that may interest you:   Antiquarian's Delight (or South Street Antiques Market) at 615 South 6th Street is a delight. The variety of goods in the various booths is impressive, and there's so much material that you'll want to allocate sufficient time to enjoy it. If you like vintage dresses, accessories, and jewelry, for example, you'll find lots on the first floor at the back. Don't miss the basement - - there are lots of unique goods down there. The items throughout tend to be a bit pricey, but the booth owners are most likely present on the weekend, and that's your best bet for a special price and a real bargain. Open Wed and Thurs noon - 7, Friday and Saturday noon - 8, Sunday noon - 7. The store is about 10 miles from your Convention Hotel - - a 20 minute drive.   Nearby at 617 Bainbridge Street is Anastacia's Antiques, regarded by many as the best antique store in Philadelphia.  The owner, Stacy (Anastacia), is very knowledgeable about everything Victorian, Art Nouveau, and Art Deco; and the store has everything from vintage purses to Balkan jewelry to dolls. To give you an idea of the range of goods, consider: Spooky mannequin heads with Max Factor eyelashes, Ancient postcards, Antique linens in pristine condition. Exceptionally nice onyx jewelry, Wire eyeglasses, Full range of Victoriana - including a great range of tile, Ceramic and metal planters, crystal candelabras, Door knobs, Fans you would see in film noir, Signage you would see in a silent movie. The store is viewed as having amazingly good prices. The store is about 9 miles from your Convention Hotel - - a 19 minute drive.   Oliver's Antiques, at 2052 Fairmount Avenue, is another fine store. Oliver's has a broad range of antiques; of particular note would be the purses, jewelry (both costume and fine), and antiquarian china. Lots of nooks and crannies to explore - - and the prices tend to be quite reasonable. Oliver's is close to the Eastern States Penitentiary. (I'll have more to say about Eastern States in a later Email !) Oliver's is about 9 miles from your Convention Hotel - - a 19 minute drive.   The Indigo Arts Gallery at1400 North American Street, #104, focuses on International Folk Art from Asia, Africa, and the Americas. With three floors of jewelry (very nice amber, topaz, and jade - skillfully made), books, masks, paintings, instruments, furniture, folk art, bedspreads, etc. from all over the world, if you're seeking international material, you'll probably find what you seek here. The store is about 12 miles from your Convention Hotel - - a 22 minute drive.   So - - that's a sampling of Philadelphia Antiquing.   But let's look at one more venue - - Mullica Hill, New Jersey. Mullica Hill is an easy 21 mile (30 minute) drive from your Convention Hotel. It's a village - - and its Main Street is lined with Antique Shops!  Here are a few:     King's Row Antique Center, 46 North Main Street, has Dealers     that feature Victorian furnishings, Americana to early 20th Century,     Royal Family Specialist, Antique China, books, postcards, toys,     glassware, vintage textiles, decorative accessories, silver, jewelry,     estate and antique jewelry, pottery, folk art, old toys, and miniature     scale trains. Open every day, 11 AM to 5 PM.     Old Mill Antique Center, 1 South Main Street, has Dealers that feature     ephemera, books, china, glass, vintage clothing, costumes, buttons,     dolls, Linens, vintage tools, old bottles, insulators, lanterns, jewelry;     Roseville, Van Briggle, Rookwood, and Lenox china; antique radios,     clocks, Edison cylinder players, trains, childrens' books, tokens,     medals, coins. At least three of the Dealers (Betty-Ann's Folly,     Lucky Dog, and Mulberry Tree have dolls). Open 7 days per week,     11 AM - 5 PM.     Lucky Dog Antiques, at 19 South Main Street, features childrens'     books, dolls, old attic treasures.     Front Porch Antiques, at 21 South Main Street, has furniture, oil     paintings, prints, mirrors, and decorative items. Open Fri-Sun 11-5     The Sign of St. George, at 30 South Main Street, has antique furniture.     china, porcelain, jewelry, and accent pieces. Open Fri-Sun 12-5.     Trellis Antiques and Interiors, at 43 South Main Street, has four rooms     of vintage and antique furniture, pottery, textiles, and garden ware.     Open Wed - Sat 11 - 5, and Sunday Noon - 4. Ample free parking     in the rear.      The Yellow Garage Antiques Marketplace, at 66 South Main Street,     is a 6500 square foot interior marketplace. Its Dealers specialize in    18th and 19th Century country furniture in original paint, pine and     fine Period furniture, blue decorated stoneware, redware, yellow ware,     quilts, baskets, samplers, folk art, Americana, Indian artifacts, fine art,     dolls and accessories, 19th Century antique images, vintage     Halloween and other holiday collectible, toys, estate jewelry,     Civil War artifacts, fine glassware and china, Wallace Nutting prints,     trade signs and advertising, and decorative arts.      Of particular interest to you may be Louise's Little Ladies Dolls and     Toys in the Yellow Garage Marketplace. Open Wed - Sun 11 -5.     For those who may want to have lunch in the area, there are options:       - Toscana Restaurant at Mullica Plaza, 127 Bridgeton Pike         serves pizza, pasta, seafood, chicken, and beef dishes;         as well as soups and desserts.       - Harrison House Restaurant at Routes 45 and 322.       - Blueplate at 47 South Main Street       - Amelia's Tea and Holly, at 26 South Main Street is a tea room.    [To get to Mullica Hill from your Convention Hotel, take I-95 South for a total of 7.4 miles to Exit 4 (US 322 E), then follow US 322 E over the Delaware River for a total of 13.2 miles, and there you are!]     So - - there you have some Antiquing venues, in Philadelphia, and outside Philadelphia.   I'll be back next time with more things to see and do in the area.   - - Garth           2011 INTERNATIONAL PAPER DOLL CONVENTION                                August 17 - 21, 2011                   Embassy Suites - Philadelphia Airport                                9000 Bartram Avenue                             Philadelphia,  PA  19153                                                     ******************************************************************************                           CONVENTION REGISTRATION   NAME__________________________________________________   ADDRESS_______________________________________________   CITY_______________________STATE_______ ZIP/PC__________   EMAIL_____________________________________   PHONE____________________________________   Registration:  $295.00 USD    Absentee Registration:  $155.00 USD   (Absentee Registrations are limited in number.)   Guest Registration (Meals, Reception Party) $150.00   GUEST NAME:__________________________________________   Make Checks payable to:  2011 Paper Doll Convention   ____ Check/money order enclosed   ____ Credit Card #____________________________Exp.Date______         (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, AmEx accepted)         (charge will appear on statement as "Paperdoll Review")   Mail to:   David Wolfe P.O. Box 2279 New Preston,  CT  06777 **********************************************************************************