A New Squidoo Group

Today I’m going to go just a little off topic by inviting any of my readers to join my new Squidoo Group. It is a group for both collectors and sellers of Ephemera and Paper Collectibles.

The group is small right now with only 3 members and 10 lenses. The lenses are pretty darn cool though. Vintage magazine ads, wrestling programs, autographs, sheet music, and old hollywood magazines are covered in the lenses so far.

So, if you are a fellow lensmaster and have written a lens that would fit in this group, go on over and submit the lens or lenses and I’ll take a peak at them for you. Not only will I add you to the group but I’ll read and rate your lens for you too.

Just click this link to visit Ephemera and Paper Collectibles Group

Cimarron by Edna Ferber Best Seller in 1930

A novel by the historical fiction author, Edna Ferber. Published in 1929 it achieved the number 1 best seller status in 1930. The novel has lost favor with many as it is looked at as being racist although it does depict historical events that occurred in our country.

Cimarron gets its name from the Cimarron Territory. The Cimarron Territory was an unrecognized name for the Oklahoma Panhandle or No Man’s Land, an unsettled area of the West and Midwest, especially lands once inhabited by Native American tribes such as the Cherokee and Sioux. In 1886 the government declared such lands open to settlement. Oklahoma at the time of the novel’s opening is one such “Cimarron Territory” though, in actuality, the historical setting of the novel is somewhere in the Cherokee Outlet, also known as the Cherokee Strip and probably the city of Woodward, Oklahoma.

The novel is set in the Oklahoma of the latter nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. It follows the lives of Yancy and Sabra Cravat, beginning with Yancey’s tale of his participation in the Oklahoma Land Race 1893 land rush. They emigrate from Wichita, Kansas to the fictional town of Osage, Oklahoma with their son, Cim, and (unknowingly) a black boy named Isaiah. The Cravats here print their newspaper, the Oklahoma Wigwam and build their fortune amongst Indian disputes, outlaws, and the discovery of oil in Oklahoma. Upon its publication, Cimarron was a sensation in America and came to epitomize an era in American history. This novel became Ferber’s third successful novel and paved the way for many more historical epics penned by the author.

From Wikipedia Article

Kitchen Appliances in Vintage Magazine Ads

I love the old kitchen appliances promoted in vintage magazine ads! Retro looking stoves and refrigerators from companies like Frigidaire, General Electric, Crosley, Westinghouse, and Philco are so nostalgic. Many of the ads will give a view of a kitchen during the era they are from too.

I often think that many of these ads could be used to help decorate a kitchen to a specific era because of their detail.

The small appliances like old mixers, waffle irons, electric skillets, toasters, coffee makers, and irons are a lot of fun to look at too. Some people actually frame some of these and hang them near a vintage appliance that they have in their collection for a really neat display.

For a fun peek at the vintage ads that I currently have in stock you can visit The Paper Trail

Babbitt a novel by Sinclair Lewis 1922

Babbitt is a novel written by Sinclair Lewis and first published in 1922 where it became No. 10 on the best seller list that year and rose to No. 4 in 1923.

A satire of American culture it focuses on conformity and the emptiness of the society as a whole.  George F. Babbit is the main character who is successful, yet unhappy.

In 1924 the book was made into a silent film by Warner Brothers and then in 1934 it was again done by Warner Brothers as a ‘talkie’.

Max by Katherine Cecil Thurston 1910

Max a novel by Katherine Cecil Thurston reached the number 4 best seller position in 1910. The story is about a young Russian princess who disguises herself as a boy to flee to France the night before her arranged marriage.  She ends up in the Montmartre Quarter of Paris for an enthralling adventure.

Author Robert Ludlum – A favorite of mine

Robert Ludlum was an American author who penned 25 thriller novels. Born May 25, 1927 in New York City and passed on March 12, 2001 in Naples, Florida. He also published books under 2 known pseudonyms – Jonathan Ryder and Michael Shepherd.

Many of Ludlum’s books have been made into movies with the most recent being the Bourne series with actor Matt Damon.

Books written by Robert Ludlum:

• The Scarlatti Inheritance (1971)
• The Osterman Weekend (1972)
• The Matlock Paper (1973)
• Trevayne (1973, writing under the pen-name Jonathan Ryder)
• The Cry of the Halidon (1974, writing under the pen-name Jonathan Ryder)
• The Rhinemann Exchange (1974)
• The Road to Gandolfo (1975, writing under the pen-name Michael Shephard)
• The Gemini Contenders (1976)
• The Chancellor Manuscript (1977)
• The Holcroft Covenant (1978)
• The Matarese Circle (1979)
• The Bourne Identity (1980)
• The Parsifal Mosaic (1982)
• The Aquitaine Progression (1984)
• The Bourne Supremacy (1986)
• The Icarus Agenda (1988)
• The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)
• The Road to Omaha (1992)
• The Scorpio Illusion (1993)
• The Apocalypse Watch (1995)
• The Matarese Countdown (1997)
• The Prometheus Deception (2000)

A book club edition of The Holcroft Covenant can be found at The Paper Trail

A 1992 first edition of The Road to Omaha can be found at The Paper Trail

Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey 1906

Spirit of the Border is an historical novel written by Zane Grey and published in 1906. Based on events that occurred in the Ohio River Valley in the 18th century the book is the second in a trilogy by the author.

Lew Wetzel, historical figure, dedicated his life to destroying the Native Americans who lived in the valley and to protect the white settlements in the region.  The story deals with the Moravian missionaries who tried to Christianize the Indians. Two brothers lives take separate paths upon their arrival on the border.

The first book in the trilogy was Betty Zane which was Grey’s first published work. The third book in the trilogy was The Last Trail which focused on an ancestor of Grey, Jonathan Zane.

A 1954 edition of this book can be found at The Paper Trail

Collectible Children’s Series Books

Here is a list of popular series books collected today by many bibliophiles. The list is not all inclusive but gives some fun ideas for books to look for.
Campfire Girls - A series of fiction novels written for children beginning as early as 1900 and ending in 1936. A variety of authors wrote these books and it is not a numbered series.
Bobbsey Twins – Series began in 1904 and ran until 1979. There are 72 titles in the series.

Tom Swift Book

Tom Swift – Original series ran from 1910 to 1941 with adventures novels featuring the genius inventor.
Hardy Boys - Longest running and best selling detective and mystery series for children. 58 titles running from 1927-1979. Frank and Joe Hardy are the main characters.
Nancy Drew – Long running mystery series with 56 titles running from 1930-1979.
Judy Bolton – Created by Margaret Sutton in 1932, Judy Bolton solved mysteries much like Nancy Drew. Many feel that Judy was a better role model for girls. There were 38 titles published from 1932 to 1967.
Dana Girls – A series of 30 titles first published in 1934 to compete with the popular Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series. The original series ended in 1968. Three different authors wrote for this series Leslie McFarlane (first 4 books), Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, and Mildred Wirt Benson. Main characters are Louise and Jean Dana.
Cherry Ames – Mystery solving Nurse, Cherry Ames is the main character in this series of 27 titles written from 1943 through 1968. Helen Wells wrote 1-7 and 17-27. Julie Campbell Tatham wrote 8-16.
Rick Brant – Scientific adventures and mysteries with 24 titles running from 1947 to 1960.
Vicki Barr – Flight Stewardess mystery series with 16 titles running from 1947-1969. Two authors: Helen Wells and Julie Campbell Tatham.
Trixie Belden – Girl Detective series first published in 1948. The first six books in the series were written by Julie Campbell. Trixie and her friend Honey Wheeler are the main characters.
Chip Hilton – Series of sports related books with 23 titles in the series which ran from 1948 to 1965. Touchdown Pass was the first book in the series. Football, baseball, and basketball were the main topics of the books.
Tom Corbett - Space Cadet in 8 books that rant from 1952 to 1956 with pseudo-science adventures of Corbett as a cadet at the Space Academy.
Brains Benton – Six stories in the series that ran from 1959 to 1961. Adventures of teens Barclay ‘Brains’ Benton and his sidekick Jimmy Carson.

Vintage Magazine Ads promoting Beer and Alcohol

One of the categories that I have on my website is for vintage magazine ads promoting old Beer and Alcohol companies. These old ads are colorful and entertaining. Many were illustrated by famous and collectible artists of the past such as John Falter, Stevan Dohanos, Douglas Crockwell, and many others. A variety of themes and subjects are also seen in these wonderful old advertisements. Many people frame them and enhance a collection of a specific brewery or distillery company.

Some of my favorites were done for the United States Brewers Foundation who did a long running series of ‘Home Life in America’. The company hired many artists do create a new advertisement each month depicting life in the United States.

Examples of these ads can be found here:

The Paper Trail

Number 1 bestseller books list from 1990 to 1999

List of the Number 1 bestseller books and their authors during the decade of 1990 to 1999. This list was compiled from lists published for each year by Publishers Weekly magazine. These books are still pretty commonly found in many venues such as used book stores, garage sales, estate sales, flea markets, and your favorite website for used books.

1990 – The Plains of Passage by Jean Auel

1991 – Scarlett by Alexandra Ripley

1992 – Delores Claiborne by Stephen King

1993 – The Bridges of Madison County by Robert James Waller

1994 – The Chamber by John Grisham

1995 – The Rainmaker by John Grisham

1996 – The Runaway Jury by John Grisham

1997 – The Partner by John Grisham

1998 – The Street Lawyer by John Grisham

1999 – The Testament by John Grisham

John Grisham celebrated 6 of the 10 titles on the best seller list during this decade. Quite an amazing feat in my humble opinion.

Of the titles listed above, you can find a first edition copy of Scarlett on this website:

The Paper Trail