Steeplechase Park, Coney Island, 1906

I am having a fine time, Augusta F. Fegley

Memorial Day weekend is also the unofficial start of the summer season. Let's hope the rain and cold is behind us for good!

Wartime WWII Women by Larry Bassin

Another souvenir from the 2012 Dayton, Ohio convention, by one of my favorite artists, Larry Bassin.

A death in the family

You might not know the name Patrick O'Tierney, but you know his uncle, the King of Paper Dolls, Tom Tierney. Patrick and his wife Kathy helped manage Tom's career, accompanied him to conventions and introduced him to a new generation of artists and collectors on the internet. And that is why it is heartbreaking to learn that Patrick passed away suddenly on May 17 at the age of 56. Our hearts and prayers go out to Kathy on the loss of her husband, and to Tom on the loss of his nephew.

You can read Patrick's obituary here.

Bob Hope USO Tour by Marilyn Henry

Last year's convention at the Hope Convention Center and Hotel in Dayton, Ohio, was a heartfelt tribute to the military. Mary Young, Peggy Ell and Louise Leek did a wonderful job, and the souvenirs were right on topic. Love Marilyn Henry's tribute to Hope's tradition of entertaining the troops overseas.

Makers & Millinery catalog, March 1904 -- part II

Nan C. Moorehead Paper Doll Discount List

Nan C. Moorehead sent this six- page list  right before I went away on vacation -- my apologies for this delayed posting. I know many of you look forward to Nan's lists. A new one will be forthcoming in June.

Lots of celebrities, some greeting cards; most prices have been lowered. Make sure you call Nan before sending money, to make sure the item is still available.

Makers & Millinery catalog, March 1904 -- part I

Another Arezzo find: a catalog of hats, undergarments and other accessories. The first pages are devoted to men's hats. On the last page posted here, "Fantasia" is listed as a child's jaunty beret, recognizable from many an old photograph of a child dressed in his or her Sunday best.

Men had so many fashionable hat choices in 1904!

Fashion plate, c. 1860s

A find from the Arezzo antique market.

Italian Journey 2013

Some pictures from my trip to Italy. Above and below, scenes from an antiques market that flowed through the lovely streets of Arezzo.

 A fashion print in Firenze.

In Turin: A book cover collage that incorporates modern bar codes and other contemporary papers, which I thought was cool, given that we don't value new ephemera as we do the old. But one day we will.

Happy Mother's Day

Lettie Lane's Mother and Several of Her Costumes, by Sheila Young.

Ladies Home Journal, February 1909

Dover reprint

Doll of Italy, c. 1950

Tichnor Greeting Cards, Dolls of Many Lands

Marie of Italy, 1932

Whitman, Dolls of Many Lands, 1932.

Marie of Italy, 1931

Miss Italy, c. 1912

Fletcher post card.

Betsy McCall in Italy, 1963

Betsy McCall Writes From Italy

McCall's Magazine, August 1963

Artist: Ginnie Hofmann

click on image to see larger version

Dolly Dingle in Italy

By Grace Drayton. Originally appeared in the May 1917 Pictorial Review. This is a copy from the 1978 Dover Publications book.