1905: Flatiron Building

via shorpy

New York circa 1905. Flatiron Building, corner after snow storm. 8x10 inch dry plate glass negative, Detroit Publishing Company.

A lovely image. View full size here.

Original patents for famous toys

via retronaut


Patent for Etch-A-Sketch, September 1962. Go to this link to see the patents for Monopoly, Slinky, Lego, Barbie, and others.

Business Cards: Page III

Many of the cards on this page were paper samples. In the past, paper manufacturers would showcase their paper stocks utilizing various printing techniques. As time has marched on, many of the companies have merged together, and the number of stocks, as well as printed samples, has dwindled.

Middle card, top row: I like how primitive the artwork is in the circle. The card next to this is blind embossed.

Middle row, left card: Embossed and foil stamped, perfect to represent a financial service. Center card was given to me by my father-in-law. It is a Carte de Visite or calling card, and is the only one I have in my collection. Right card: Opaque inks [probably double-hit] on a deep teal stock.

Bottom row, left card: Nice incorporation of a map, though the address gets a little illegible. Far right card: Two colors on a guinea egg shell stock, embossed as well.

Click on the image for a larger view of the cards.

Year of the Golden Rabbit

via gidfengshui

“Thursday marks the year of the Golden Rabbit, the one and only golden rabbit you can find in the cycle of 60 permutations, the fourth in place from The Twelve Animal Zodiac. It is called the year of The ‘Golden’ Rabbit because we have the element of Metal (Xin) over Wood (Rabbit), however, Rabbit still belongs to the group of Spring of the four seasons, and in addition, it is the peak of Spring dominated by the major element of Wood in the Chinese Metaphysical Science. Thus, this is actually a wood year of Metal over Wood. And as Metal conquers over Wood in the cycle of destruction, this is not really a harmonious and friendly year generally speaking.”