Last week it seemed like all of America (certainly everyone on my Facebook feed) had taken time out to enjoy the latest installment of insanity from Pee-wee Herman, as Netflix started streaming Pee-wee’s Big Holiday on March 18. I thought it would be a good moment to look back at one of the most exceptional aspects of Pee-wee’s original TV show Pee-wee’s Playhouse that doesn’t get talked about so much anymore, that being the utterly amazing set of trading cards that Topps unveiled to promote the show in 1988. Seriously, I don’t think trading cards ever got any better than this. Every package of the Pee-wee’s Playhouse trading cards was conceived as a “Fun Pak” that included a mishmash of items, including cards, stickers, temporary tattoos, and curious little lenticular images. It was truly a bounty—every single package came with enough brightly colored whimsy and silly puns to satisfy even the most immature middle schooler. This is what a package (in rear) and its typical contents looked like: A blog dedicated to the “Topps Archives” provides some crucial detail to the way this set worked, calling it “one of the most innovative...

Liebig's Meat Extract "Butterfly Girls" German edition, 1890. Atropos Acherontia

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File name: 10_03_002353a Binder label: Thread Title: The hand that rocks the cradle, rules the world. Merrick Thread Co., the cradle of American liberty. [front] Created/Published: N. Y. : Donaldson Brothers Date issued: 1870 - 1900 (approximate) Physical description: 1 print : chromolithograph ; 12 x 8 cm. Genre: Advertising cards Subject: Women; Infants; Thread; Cotton; Cradles Notes: Title from item. Retailer: Jno. F. Rowland, St. James, Md. Statement of responsibility: Merrick Thread Co. Collection: 19th Century American Trade Cards Location: Boston Public Library, Print Department Rights: No known restrictions.

Available Now: Edmund Dulac - Illustrations and Art - 40 Trading Cards Set Condition: NEW! Includes 40 Glossy Trading Card Size cards with blank white matte back - Shipped to protect in collectible card sleeves - FREE! Featuring the Art and Paintings of artist, Edmund Dulac NO Duplicates. Complete Set. The cards are 2.5 x 3.5 in size to fit the card sleeves we send with purchase ~~~Notice about copyrights~~~ This item does not infringe any copyright, trade mark, or other rights or any of Etsy's listing policies or intellectual policies. Extensive research, modifications and restoration works to the original Public Domain material itself has ensured that we created a new work and own the intellectual property rights, license and the legality to market the products. We are the creators of this content or are authorized distributors; the seller holds all the legal rights to this specific collection as described in Title 17 of the United States Code 101. These images may be used for crafts and for personal use. This product is copyrighted 2019, All rights reserved and may not be reproduced, or copied to be resold.

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This weekend I was lucky to portray an 18th century milliner at the America's Hometown Thanksgiving Celebration in Plymouth, Mass. (Some pictures are on Instagram, but I'll post others here later this week.) To prepare for the event, I researched the terms millinery / milliner. I usually think as a milliner as relating to the art of hat making, and I believe it's separate from a mantua maker who would make gowns, but sometimes it seems that the definition of milliner in the modern vernacular reenacting genre suggests making gowns. Is this definition 18th century valid? What exactly did an 18th century milliner make and sell? To learn more about 18th century "millinery", I've investigated some primary sources to answer these questions... A Morning Rable or The Milliner's Shop, 1782 British Museum 1935,0522.1.31 The first print shows the woman in the center sewing a cap. (Thanks to the mirror behind her, I'm pretty sure her hair is braided!) I can't quite tell what the woman on the left is crafting, but maybe it's trim for the petticoat that's hanging behind her? (I love how the ladies are all wearing long sleeves!) A. Welles Milliner Lewis Walpole Library, Accession Number 66 726 T675 This pretty ad doesn't offer much detail to help answer my questions. Elizabeth Dawes Milliner, c.1757 Lewis Walpole Library Accession Number 66 726 T675 Quarto Ms. Dawes sells quite an assortment of goods at her shop such as tippets, children's stays and cloaks. Though she doesn't list ladies' gowns, she offers almost every accessory. (I would totally love to shop there!) In exploring the question about milliners specifically making hats, this ad suggests milliners could also be talented seamstresses who crafted, or at least carried, many necessary accessories. Mary Elliot Milliner, c.1757-1758 Lewis Walpole Library, Accession Number 66 726 T675 Much like Ms. Dawes' shop, Ms. Elliot's shop offers an assortment of accessories. Though it doesn't appear to have as much variety, I find it interesting that she promotes wholesale prices suggesting that she might contract out goods to other suppliers. Thomas Graham, Milliner and Pattern Drawer, c.1757-1758 Lewish Wale Pole Library, Accession Number 66 726 T675 Unfortunately we can't learn what more Mr. Graham is selling, but we do learn that, "...all manner of needle-work done after the Newest Fashion." Perhaps this includes gowns? The charming milliner of ____ Street, December 1771 Lewis Walpole Library, Accession Number 771.12.01.05.2+ To have worked in the fashion business, the milliner must have been stylish. A Milliner's Shop or Mrs Monopolize, the butchers wife purchasing a Modern HeadDress, 1772 V&A Accession Number E.620-1997 I found two opposing definitions of the term "Millinery" in different editions of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary. The version I have on my Nook states: MILLINER (M'ILLINER) I believe from Milaner, an inhabitant of Milan, as a Lombad is a banker. One who sells ribands and dresses for women. However Dr. Johnson's Dictionary on Google Books says: Milliner: one who sells ribands, bonnets, caps, &tc. for women. Dowt, that darn et cetera! I had a Renaissance lit professor in college who said, "The et cetera invites the reader to participate." In this case, because the few other primary sources I found didn't allude to gowns, I think the e-book editor probably took a bit too much liberty in hir editing. I'm concluding, for now, that milliners didn't make gowns and that they focused on hats, caps and an assortment of accessories. But I invite you to share you interpretations, &tc.

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In December, I shared some Domestic Sewing Machine trade cards along with some info about the company's history and their advertising themes. Today I have some more Domestic cards, but they're more about charming illustrations than hard-sell advertising. This is one of my favorite cards. Do you think they're playing "house" under the sewing machine? Two young ladies making doll clothes with the Domestic sewing machine. A paper doll and her outfits. This card is dated 1901. It is still considered a trade card, but about this time postcards started usurping the popularity of trade cards and this type of advertising started to fade away. I think we can agree the advertising copy still rings true today. Don't you agree having just the right sewing machine makes you a happy camper and in turn, makes your home happy?

French Trade Card, 1890’s

File name: 10_03_001483a Binder label: Sewing Machines Title: Domestic - Domestic patterns (front) Date issued: 1870-1900 (approximate) Physical description: 1 print : chromolithograph ; 13 x 8 cm. Subject: Women; Sewing machines Notes: Title from item. Retailer: J. L. Moore & Son, Laconia, N. H. Statement of responsibility: Domestic Sewing Machine Co. Collection: 19th Century American Trade Cards Location: Boston Public Library, Print Department Rights: No known restrictions.

Liebig's Beef Extract "Constellations" Italian issue, 1903. Ursa Minor, the Little Bear & Polaris, the North Star

Hello blog land! I hope you have all had a fabulous Cyber Monday and Tuesday Sale! I picked up an awesome South Carolina Explorers Trading Cards file from Carrie Whitlock which you can purchase by clicking on the image below! I am so in love with this idea and we are just finishing this unit so I emailed her and asked if I could create an editable and printable template to post on my blog and she was so kind and generous to say yes! I recommend purchasing her file because it has an example and rubrics for Social Studies and Language Arts! Here is my editable file. You don't just have to use it on SC explorers. You could adapt it for anything! I inclded two versions. One version you can just print and let students write or draw in or you could let your students edit one on the computer adding pictures and text that you can manipulate any way you like! Just click the file above to download your copy! (Clipart is from Melonheadz Illustrations) On top of my trading card purchase, I also purchased tons of graphics from Ashley Hughes! I just love her cute clip art!! There are other things that made it into my shopping cart as well, but I'll save that for the Blog Hoppin' post! Happy almost Hump Day!!

Liebig's Beef Extract "Famous Women of Ancient Times" Dutch issue, 1897. Carthage ~ "Salammbo"