Bookmark collection, ca.1890-ca.1930. - View Resource (original) (raw)

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Bookmark collection, ca.1890-ca.1930.

Title

Bookmark collection, ca.1890-ca.1930.

Abstract

Thirty-eight bookmarks and ribbons with a Chester County, Pennsylvania, connection, dating from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Most of bookmarks are home-made, the maker(s) starting with silk ribbons and adding embroidered perforated paper, scraps, or greeting cards to the ribbons. The names I. Ellwood Larkin, Anna C.N.(?) Larkin, and Uncle William appear on three of the bookmarks, and a fourth was made for "dear uncle." Three are embroidered with the motto "Forget me not." Several have religious designs or mottoes, such as "God is Love." A textile label was used to decorate one bookmark. Four bookmarks are fabric but not ribbon: two counted cross-stitch, one needlepoint, and the fourth appears to be woven. These are newer than the rest of the collection. One bookmark is made of vellum and has pansies painted on it. Two of the bookmarks are advertisements, one for Pear's Soap, and the other a souvenir of the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition held in Portland, Oregon, compliments of Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Co. of Seattle. A religious New Year's text for 1895 was printed for the Bethany Bible Union by John Wanamaker; it bears no advertisement for his store, however. Two ribbons are printed with poems, "His Star" by Annie E. Michener, dated 1907, and "Alone." Three ribbons were probably not meant to be used as bookmarks, although they could have been used as such. The first is imprinted with "Good Will Fire Co'y Fair, Aid, 1892," the second is imprinted with "Flower Stand Fair, W.C.C.B., Jan. 22 to 24, 1891." The third ribbon is decorated with an eagle atop an American flag and a seal labeled "Landing of Columbus," and is imprinted with "National Public School Celebration, Columbus Day, Oct. 21st, 1492, 1892, official badge, patent applied for." The last item in the collection is a swatch of hand-painted silk used as a birthday card. Painted on the silk is a little boy in a page's outfit, five butterflies, and the greeting "A greeting by my page I send/ To thee on our birthday my Bessie." The card is not signed.

Extent

38 items : ill. ; 44 cm. or smaller.