Who doesn't love a good book? Though I don't have as much time to read these days as I used to, I am always on the look-out for beautiful antique books and often use them as backdrops in my jewelry photos. Today I wanted to show you some of my favourites and why I love them.
This is an elementary French grammar schoolbook. Though I cannot find a date, its brittle yellow pages seem to hail from the early part of the 20th century.
How scary is this illustration of a girl catching her dress on fire by going too close to the oven?! I guess that was how parents and teachers got their point across before we knew so much about psychology.
I bought this next book, a tiny dictionary from 1936, when I was in my early twenties because I loved its floral cover. It's so handy, I still refer to it when I need to check the spelling or meaning of a word.
Now for the first of three Victorian photo albums. This one is hardly in mint condition, but features a rich burgundy cover with silk flowers embossed on it. How could I refuse?
And each page inside features brightly coloured flowers!
Here is a general store ledger book from '91. That's
1891! Books from this era were very long and thin. Does anyone know the reason for this?
It is filled with page after page of handwritten entries such as this one. Is that five and a half pounds of bacon for 82 cents?
Another late 19th century photo album, wrapped in embossed red velvet. My sister found this treasure many years ago at the Salvation Army for about $5.00! How lucky I am that she gave it to me! The front and sides are very worn, but you can get an idea of how rich the velvet once was by looking at the back.
The Tiffany blue pages with gold accents are so yummy!
One more photo album. This one may be slightly newer since it is in the shorter, wider style that we're used to today. The front cover is made of plastic (celluloid?) layed over worn velvet, which I think was originally a deep rose colour.
Each page features a gold floral design. There is something so mysterious about the cavity formed inside the stacked pages, now missing their beloved photos.
Finally, a children's music book from 1895. This one is filled with handwriting that I assume was the teacher's since the messages tend to be gentle instructions about which notes to sing and when to pause.
These worn pages are a study in texture, and somehow remind me to appreciate our history and the enduring things in life. Today we are consumed with the internet, ringtones and virtual reality, but the simplicity of a good book or piano playing a favourite tune will never go out of style.
Maybe I'll go find some time to read now! :)
