ephemera

Phrenology Doctor’s Skull Inspection Letter on eBay

Johann Gaspar Spurzheim (1776-1832) was a German physician who was an early proponent of phrenology, the debunked theory that a person's traits can be derived from the shape of the skull.

According to Wikipedia, phrenology is based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions or modules. Phrenologists believed that the mind has a set of different mental faculties, with each particular faculty represented in a different area of the brain. These areas were said to be proportional to a person's propensities, and the importance of the given mental faculty. It was believed that the cranial bone conformed in order to accommodate the different sizes of these particular areas of the brain in different individuals, so that a person's capacity for a given personality trait could be determined simply by measuring the area of the skull that overlies the corresponding area of the brain.

It may be a wacky concept, but it spawned some great ephemera, including this gem being offered on eBay. It's a rare autograph letter signed "G. Spurzheim" to an unknown correspondent. According the seller's listing, the good doctor penned: "Sir - I send you the third skull for inspection, but request to get it back to-day to have it pack up again with the others. Your humble servt. G. Spurzheim".

The American Book Prices Current, a compendium of auction results, shows only one other Spurzheim letter selling in the last thirty-five years, according to the seller. The letter is laid to a thick board and has some light aging spots, but is in fine condition.

Appalachian Trail Ephemera Displayed

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History opens "Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail," a new exhibition in its Albert H. Small Documents Gallery, July 10. The exhibition focuses on the fulfillment of Shaffer's childhood goal, to hike the Appalachian Trail, which stretches through 14 states from Georgia to Maine. Featured items include Shaffer's trail diary from his pioneering 1948 hike, photographs he took along the trail, the maps he used and the boots he wore. The documents and artifacts will be on display through Oct. 30.

"Earl Shaffer is a celebrated figure in America's naturalist and environmentalist communities," said Brent D. Glass, director of the museum. "This exhibition will raise awareness of both America's natural wilderness and the man who worked so hard as an advocate for it."

Hiking the trail was a dream of Shaffer's fostered when he was a young boy. He developed the skills of an outdoorsman during his youth in rural York County, Penn. An experienced hunter, fisherman, trapper and explorer, Shaffer gained further experience serving with the U.S. Army Signal Corps during World War II. However, the trauma and loss he experienced during the war had profound effects on him; afterward, Shaffer was determined to "walk the Army out of my system." He was also concerned that the Appalachian Trail might soon be lost to natural growth due to its neglect during World War II. Shaffer began walking the more than 2,000 miles of the trail in April1948 and was the first to complete it in its entirety in one continuous hike. His subsequent work as an environmentalist, naturalist and activist continues to inspire hundreds of hikers to take on the rigorous trek each year.

The exhibition draws from the collection within the museum's Archives Center and includes papers and photographs preserved when Shaffer first completed the hike. A prolific writer and poet, Shaffer recorded his experiences in a black notebook nearly every day. On display in the exhibition, the notebook's battered condition serves as a testament to the harsh physical conditions endured by Shaffer in the 124 days it took to complete the trail. The notebook provided Americans with the first written account of the hike; no advice, footsteps to follow or guidebook was available to Shaffer when he first set out. In fact, completing the entire Appalachian Trail was deemed impossible by experts prior to Shaffer's feat. Shaffer used the diary to record his daily progress on the trail, note animal and bird sightings, discuss various people he met along the way and express his emotions, often in poetic verse.

 Shaffer completed the Appalachian Trail three times, the last in 1998 at the age of 79. After his pioneering hike in 1948, he became an environmentalist and activist on behalf of the trail and other parks and wilderness areas. His books, poetry and lectures have been celebrated for years by hikers and nature lovers across the country. This exhibition explores the writings of the man who raised awareness for the scenic beauty of American wilderness. The scope of the exhibition includes both the conception and development of the Appalachian Trail and its greater cultural and environmental impact throughout the United States.

 The 1,500-square-foot Albert H. Small Documents Gallery was created to display rare and historically significant documents that reflect the broad scope and mission of the museum in a secure environment. Due to the conservation requirements of the materials on display, including the Shaffer documents, most exhibitions will be up for no more than three months. For more information about "Earl Shaffer and the Appalachian Trail" and upcoming exhibitions in the Albert H. Small Documents Gallery, visit www.americanhistory.si.edu/documentsgallery.

Guildhall Library Ephemera Move Controversy

The Guildhall Library Prints and Maps collections are being permanently moved to the London Metropolitan Archives (LMA). Guildhall Library's Print Room was/is one of the best sources of pictorial material on London history. Its collection includes tens of thousands of prints, drawings, water colors, maps, photographs, and ephemera.

Many people were surprised and dismayed to learn that the relocation was progress this spring, and they are concerned that little publicity was given about the intended move before any objections could be lodged. UK Ephemera Society chairman, Valerie Jackson-Harris, commented "There are no words to describe my heartfelt sorrow at this news. A library department which has been complete since the time of Dick Whittington and part of London's great heritage is being moved from this historic building, because of finance, is totally unforgivable. Many people, including my late husband Peter Jackson, have donated treasured items to the Guildhall Library with the understanding that they would remain within the precincts of that venerated building for the benefit of future generations."

Once moved, the Guildhall Library collection of prints, drawings, maps and photographs will continue to be fully accessible during normal opening times at LMA, without prior appointment, via the existing online library catalogue, via Collage, and via specialist staff at the enquiry desk. The LMA reading rooms have recently been refurbished to a high standard and provide a light and open working space where readers will continue to view originals. A comprehensive reproduction service will also be available and it is intended to provide complementary services by digitizing the remainder of the Guildhall collection as well as the entire LMA collection, using onsite state of the art scanning equipment. The move will have the major benefit of uniting the Guildhall collection with the very rich and important collection of graphic materials held at LMA.

Use of the Guildhall collections at LMA will be supported by the transfer of relevant reference materials and further work is in hand to ensure that essential ties between the print and maps collections and the printed books and manuscripts at Guildhall are identified and developed. The Prints and Maps team will also continue to provide a rich and varied program of exhibitions, at Guildhall Library, LMA and Guildhall Art Gallery.

Vintage School Report Card

This 100-year-old report card looks eerily similar the ones I received as a grammar school student in the 1970s. Surely, they've changed forms by now? I've heard that if Thomas Edison or Teddy Roosevelt arose from the dead, they wouldn't recognize anything in modern America, except a classroom. I'm not sure if that's true or not, but that's what I've heard some critics of the nation's school system say. Anyway, the point of featuring this nifty antique isn't to discuss the schools, but rather to something from what I think is one of the more interesting categories of ephemera—school memorabilia. This 1905 student report card is from the Seekonk Mass. Grammar School. It was issued to a student named Edna by a teacher named Edna.

If you're a collector of old school ephemera, leave a comment about what you collect. I'd like to showcase ephemera from public schools, especially stuff from 1950-1975.

 

Memories of Memorial Day Past

This Memorial Day I'm taking a walk down memory lane with a link to a very special Memorial Day post from a few years ago. Since this blog has expanded its readership by leaps and bounds since this post first appeared, I'm certain it will be new to 99 percent of you.

GI's Tale - World War II V-Mail

Have a wonderful holiday.

Ragsdale to Sell Historic 9/11 Ephemera

According to a report on News-Antique.com, Michael Ragsdale, an ephemera collector I interviewed several years ago, has opted to part with his historic 9/11 collection.

The report says, "Beginning on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001 until December 2002, he [Ragsdale] collected every piece of paper he could find throughout the New York City area which had anything to do with 9/11—except for missing person posters and photographs of the World Trade Center destruction. He also avoided acquiring any very personal pieces. This archive numbers over 2,000 items—fliers, posters, pamphlets, lesser-known magazines, brochures, cards, public notices, press releases, and other paper ephemera—all of which covers the full range of the tri-state area's post 9/11 experience. It is considered one of the most comprehensive and important ephemera collections documenting what occurred in New York City after the attacks on and collapse of the Twin Towers. The significance of the collection has been recognized by, among others, the U.S. Library of Congress which has included over 900 documents from the collection in its September 11 Digital Archive."

Read my original interview with Ragsdale.

Best of the Hand-Written Ephemera Category

My best of series of posts continues with posts from the Documents and Hand-Written Ephemera category--always a crowd favorite.

Street Ephemera

Roller Skating Party

Chevy Chase Club

Klipsch Legend

Book Store Receipt

School Hall Pass

Roseville Pottery Letter Found at Grove Park Inn

For the past twenty years or so, Arts & Crafts enthusiasts, including new collectors, veterans, curators, craftspersons, authors, builders, architects, designers, editors, and bungalow owners, have traveled to the Blue Ridge Mountains and The Grove Park Inn for the annual Arts & Crafts Conference and Antiques Show.

Along with some dear friends of ours, we attended the most recent show.

During our tour of the many exhibits, we stumbled upon a collection of ephemera from the Arts & Crafts movement that had been assembled by the conference's founder, Bruce Johnson. Johnson is an author and speaker on Arts & Crafts, and the conference he founded has been recognized for more than two decades for its dedication to the education of the Arts & Crafts collector. Each February Johnson brings to the Grove Park Inn the foremost authorities, authors, dealers, publishers, speakers and craftspersons from across the country. This year Johnson also brought the ephemera that he uncovered during his research on a new book. Included among the many fine examples was this letter.

The letter, dated 10-16-41, was written by the President of Roseville Pottery to someone at Asheville's famed Biltmore Industries. The content of the letter isn't that interesting, but what certainly is interesting is the fact that this letter is a paper-based record of the intersection of two mid-century firms whose products are highly prized today by collectors. The letter is an outstanding example of an ephemera-based crossover collectible.

 

 

2009 World’s Coolest Ephemera Winner - Canned Booze Menu

Henry Voigt of Wilmington, Delaware, is the winner of this year's coolest ephemera contest.

Henry submitted this historic and delightful menu from the 16th Annual Banquet tendered to the Canners League of California by the American Can Company at the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco on January 8, 1920.

The comical graphics reflect the 18th amendment that was to be ratified by Congress three weeks later on January 29, 1920. Prohibition went into effect one year after ratification.

Congrats again, Henry. And thanks to everyone who sent in a submission. It just goes to show that there's an awful lot of cool ephemera in the world.

2007 Winner

2008 Winner

 

Author Helfand Caught in Scrapbooking Controversy

A while ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Jessica Helfand about her book, Scrapbooks: An American History. Recently, Helfand has been involved in a rather curious online controversy over comments she made on her site, Design Observer, about the poor quality of design in today's scrapbook culture.

Her post titled, Scrapbooking: The New Past-Up, irked a number of scrapbook bloggers, including the folks at Scrapbook Update "the Website where scrapbooking means business." Helfand responded to the dust up in an interview she did with the Denver Post in January.

The scrapbook community is irritated with Helfand's over her remarks that scrapbook enthusiasts don't have much skill in the area of layout and design and that the industry is somewhat "cheesy". Meanwhile, Helfand defends her stance as the rightful place of a critic of graphic design. She admits to perhaps going a bit overboard in the Denver Post interview, but she stands by her rights as a critic.

In the post that launched the maelstrom, Helfand wrote: "It's at once horrifying and fascinating to witness the degree to which design is being discussed online by people whose concept of innovation is measured by novel ways to tie bows; whose appreciation of photography is ordained by goofy framing techniques; and whose understanding of typography is rather heavily weighted toward pastel drop shadows and generously kerned lowercase script."

Helfand's book explores scrapbooks from a less frenetic time in American pop culture, and she raising concerns over what she and others in the graphic design industry perceive as the bastardization of the activity. The scrapbook community took offense. The blog post on Scrapbook Update includes the following: "Perhaps the worst part of all of this is that Helfand seems to be under the misconception that she is defending scrapbookers against assault from graphic designers who disrespect the craft. She doesn't seem to understand that in 'defending' scrapbooking by saying that it is the ugly stepsister of graphic design but still its family, she is still calling it the ugly stepsister - not exactly a compliment."

Regardless of where you come down on this debate—either in favor of Helfand's criticism or against it—the recent explosion in the popularity of scrapbooks is a boon to ephemera collectors. Literally millions of people are stowing away bits and pieces of everyday life in books that will one day be a treasure trove for future generations of ephemera collectors. Regardless of whether or not you find the layout of today's scrapbooks aesthetically pleasing or urban blight, it's good to know that the choicest pieces of pop culture paper from today are being saved, stored, and lovingly preserved.