Laird's Bloom of Youth and White Lilac Soap

Trade card, ca. 1880s

I was introduced to this lovely card at the National Arts Club last year, during a presentation on Dangerous Beauty, all about the toxic rituals of Victorian beauty (belladonna eye shadow, arsenic complexion wafers, and a green dye for frocks that was quite deadly).

Was White Lilac Soap toxic? Hard to say; ingredients are not listed.

Janet Blair

I'm fascinated with old time stars whose names are unfamiliar to me. Janet Blair had the lead in the 1942 film, "My Sister Eileen." You can read more about her here.

This looks like it was cut out from Ripley's Believe it or Not! My friend Carol Carey copied the doll and created a little wardrobe for her in 2005. I'm always on the lookout for photos or illustrations that were not meant to be paper dolls--but fill the bill nicely.