Ephemera:

Ephemera is a broad term used to describe items of paper that were created for use in a short time span and meant to be thrown away after one or two uses. Items generally put into the ephemera category of collecting would be sheet music, posters, stock certificates, post cards, cigarette cards, magazines, catalogs, and the like.
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Saturday, June 2, 2012

Vintage Oversized Greeting Cards

My sorting and organization project is in full swing.  I think I have emptied all the boxes in the garage and now the task will become much easier.  In the last box I found a large manila envelope bulging at the seams with old greeting cards.  Most of these cards would be from the late 1940's through the 50's, as they were given to Madeline's children.  There are so many!  I do believe I could open a vintage greeting card store with all the cards I have discovered.  It is mind-boggling!

A few oversized cards stood out so I pulled them out and will feature in this post. 



Here is a sweet Christmas card featuring a little girl, snowman, and a bird.  The snowman has two tabs which can make him stand out a bit when on a table.  This is a Rust Craft card from Boston, MA.  On the back is printed:  "The original of the design reproduced on this card was painted by Marjorie Cooper a member of the Rust Craft Artists' Guild."  It really is a beautiful card that would look great in an old frame.


Baby's First Christmas in a shoe!  The baby is actually a separate piece and can be removed from the shoe.  I need to put this one aside in a special place as next Christmas will some lucky baby's first Christmas at our house.


Another Baby's First Christmas card.  Like the snowman above, the baby has tabs that make him stand out. 


The back of the card, with the note that it is a Marjorie Cooper painting as well.


For a Special Someone - I really like this card because it shows a little girl, a puppy, a book, and a doll.  All things I love.  Just about all these cards were given to my sister-in-law Judy who was the oldest in the family.


Santa on the chimney with his sack of toys.  There are even a few feathers for his beard.  This one was a Hallmark card from 1949.


Moving on to birthday cards, this is a very cute one.


Here is the back of the card with a little verse.  The girl is on brads so she can be manipulated and her head rocks back and forth.  The name of the maker is "Rock-N-Play Cards".


On to Valentine's Day!  This is a sweet card with a little kitten with a big bow.  The kitten is flocked so he feels soft.  On the back there is a cardboard stand to show him off.

Last card - another valentine with a kitten.  This one has a metal heart around his neck and also has a stand on the back to show him off.  I love how each of these cards has something special about them.  I think they are all true works of art.