Saturday, December 1, 2012

Vintage Dog Postcards at Birdhouse Books

Hi all!

I just added some fabulous vintage dog postcards to my store, and wanted to share a few with you.  You'll find all these cards, and many more, at Birdhouse Books - vintage dog postcards.   They make great stocking stuffer gifts, and also are lovely framed!

West Highland Terrier dogs - RPPC Christmas postcard:



Alaskan Malamute dog team - another RPPC (Real Photo Postcard):


Jack Russell Terrier dogs transfixed by their reflection in a mirror:


 Another RPPC featuring an Airedale, Beagle, Cocker Spaniel, and a dog who looks like he could be a Collie - Terrier mix:


 Skye Terrier dogs:


 A Cabinet card featuring a Wirehair Fox Terrier - a real beauty:


Monday, November 12, 2012

Baby Boomer Vintage Comic Books with TV Tie-Ins



Did you read comic books as a kid?  Growing up in the 1960's and 1970's, I loved the Archies!  I also remember some Walt Disney comic books as a very little girl.

I just chanced upon some neat baby boomer (1950's - 1960's) vintage comic books, most with TV tie-ins.  It was fun to research them, photograph them, and list them at Birdhouse Books.  The comic books include:
  1. Leave it to Beaver
  2. Howdy Doody
  3. The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
  4. Captain Kangaroo
  5. The Aquanauts
  6. The Adventures of Big Boy - Shoney's
  7. Bullwinkle
  8. Betty and Veronica - The Archies
Hope you'll stop by and browse through these fun comic books!

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Let's Go to the Retro Theatre! Vintage Playbill Programs




As a former theater geek (high school and college), of course I love vintage Playbill theater programs!   They are so much fun to look through.  I love reading about the play and the actors.  The vintage ads are terrific fun too, especially the 1960's Mad Men era advertisements.  (Amazing how many liquor and cigarette ads there are in a 1960's Playbill!)    I have recently added many vintage Playbills to my store.  Most are 1950's to 1960's vintage.  They include:
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf
Toys in the Attic
The Dresser
Luther (Albert Finney)
Ivanov (Vivian Leigh)
Annie (Sarah Jessica Parker)
and many more!  You'll find them all at Birdhouse Books: vintage Playbills at Birdhouse Books.

Thursday, September 27, 2012

New Additions: From Elephant Nursery Planter to Los Angeles Pottery

Hi all!

I've added a really fun variety of items to my store this past week, and just wanted to share a few photos with you!

Vintage nursery planter featuring an elephant pulling a little cart - would be so sweet in a baby nursery:


Mama Poodle and her 5 puppies on a leash:


Little elephant figurine - made in Japan:


Vintage wooden frame tray puzzle featuring a tabby cat and Beagle dog:


Los Angeles Potteries utensil crock (California Pottery) - dated 1965 and numbered.  Love the avocado green color!


The Beatles Anthology 1 on CD:


Down, Down the Mountain by Ellis Credle - 1961 vintage children's book set in the Blue Ridge Mountains: 


Several cut and assemble books for buildings you can put together.  They are fun for children and are also in H-O railroad scale.  This book is Cut and Assemble Main Street:


Huge lot of Gordon Fraser Christmas tags - beautiful!   All new and in the original packaging:


1961 calendar towel with an old fashioned farm scene:


All these items - and more! - are found at Birdhouse Books on eBay.  Hope you'll stop by and visit!

Monday, September 17, 2012

5 Interesting Tidbits About Little Golden Books


Little Golden Books are my favorite thing to list.   I love the illustrations, the storytelling, and the nostalgic quality of these sweet books.   I just listed many Little Golden Books, and felt inspired to share some fun facts about LGBs with you.

1. Little Golden Books were first published in 1942.

2. The first Little Golden Book published was Three Little Kittens, illustrated by Masha.

3. Little Golden Books originally sold for 25 cents.

4. Early Little Golden books have an interesting edition notation.  With older (25 cent to 29 cent) Little Golden Books, look at the gutter of the last page of book for a letter.  "A" designates First Edition, "B" designates Second Edition, and so forth.

5. Little Golden Books usually have a book number near the top of the cover.  Each title has a number.   Starting in the late 1970's, book numbers were hyphenated.  Collectors always want to know the book number.

I hope these Little Golden Book facts were interesting, and I hope you'll pop by my store to browse my Little Golden Books as well.

Pictured:  Mr. Noah and His Family, a 1948 Little Golden Book, illustrated by Alice and Martin Provensen.

Monday, September 10, 2012

Item of the Day: Motel Postcards - a Big Vintage Lot

Love this big lot of vintage motel postcards!   There are so many goodies here.  Just had to share a few photos with you.   Included in this lot:

  1. Holiday Inn - Cordele, Georgia
  2. Tropical Court motel - Folkston, Georgia
  3. Holiday Inn - West Palm Beach, Florida
  4. Ramada Inn - Brunswick, Georgia
  5. The Barcelona Hotel - Miami Beach, Florida
  6. The Jefferson Davis Hotel - Montgomery, Alabama
  7. The Sans Souci - Miami Beach, Florida
  8. Holiday Inn - West Palm Beach
  9. Holiday Inn - Allendale, South Carolina
  10. Holiday Inn - Florence, South Carolina
  11. Holiday Inn - Knoxville, Tennessee
  12. Holiday Inn - Morristown, Tennessee
  13. Holiday Inn - Bowling Green, Kentucky
  14. Holiday Inn - Nashville, Tennessee
  15. Ramada Inn - Amarillo, Texas
  16. Holiday Inn - Lexington, Kentucky
  17. Pic Motel - Marathon, Ontario, Canada
  18. Ramada Inn - Green Bay, Wisconsin
  19. Little Piney Motor Inn - Rolla, Missouri
  20. Boyne Mountain Lodge - Boyne Falls, Michigan
  21. Holiday Inn - Gallup, New Mexico
  22. Holiday Inn - Fresno, California
  23. Holiday Inn - Laredo, Texas
  24. Holiday Inn - Chinatown Area, Los Angeles, California
  25. Hotel Florence - Missoula, Montana
  26. Knights Inn - no specific location mentioned
  27. Holiday Inn - San Antonio, Texas
  28. The Waikiki Tower of the Reef Hotel - Waikiki, Hawaii
  29. Ramada Inn - Salina, Kansas
  30. Holiday Inn - Barstown, California
  31. Holiday Inn - San Francisco, California
  32. Holiday Inn - Roanoke, Virginia
  33. Holiday Inn - Knoxville, Tennessee
  34. Gold House Motor Lodge - Nahunta, Georgia



Interesting in seeing more?  Check them out here: vintage motel postcards - a big lot.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Back to School Valentines at Birdhouse Books

These school theme vintage Valentine cards are so cute!  Some feature teachers, some are for a special teacher, some have school books, and others show a classroom.   I remember buying packs of Valentines as a little girl, and finding one or two special ones for teacher in each pack.   You'll find my school themed Valentines here:  school Valentines at Birdhouse Books.

I have a few school related Valentines to share with you.  On this card, a pretty teacher writes on the blackboard:  ""U + Me = Love."   This card is 1930's to 1940's vintage.


A big-eyed girl has an apple for teacher.  This card is also 1930's to 1940's vintage.


Two baby boomer vintage children write on a chalkboard for their teacher - a very cute card!


An old fashioned classroom - also for teacher.


These cards, along with more school and teacher themed Valentines, can be found at Birdhouse Bookss.


Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Winner - Summer Blog Hop

Thanks to everyone who participated by leaving comments in the Summer Blog Hop giveaway at Birdhouse Books (Adventures on eBay).  The winner is Maria.  She has been notified by email.  Congratulations!

 

Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Summer Giveaway Hop - Win Vintage Books from Birdhouse Books




Thanks for visiting Birdhouse Books - Adventures on eBay as part of the Summer Giveaway Hop.

Birdhouse Books is a store on eBay specializing in vintage children's books, cookbooks, and ephemera (Roadside Americana postcards, vintage Valentines, Christmas cards, dog cards, cat cards, and more!).

This giveaway is open to residents of the United States, and entries will be accepted August 1 through August 7.  A winner will be chosen at random on August 8, and your prize will be mailed via Media Mail with Delivery Confirmation tracking.

The winner will receive two wonderful 1964 vintage children's books (chapter books for children):


  • Gull Number 737 by Jean Craighead Moore - children's fiction about a family who is fascinated by seagulls, and wants to help them.
  • Mystery Mountain by Florence Laughlin, illustrated by Barbara Werner - children's mystery involving horses and adventures in the mountains.

It's easy to enter!  Just visit Birdhouse Books and find your favorite item.  Then come back here and leave a comment about what your favorite item is in the store.   Be sure to include your email address, so I can contact you if you are the winner!  One entry per person.

A reminder - entries need to have the following in a comment to count:

  1. your favorite item in my store
  2. your email address


Thanks again for your visit!  Don't forget to visit the Summer Giveaway Hop page for over 170 more giveaways!

Thursday, July 26, 2012

Children's Illustrator Eloise Wilkin


Eloise Wilkin is my favorite children's illustrator.  I grew up with Little Golden Books and as a small child especially loved the Eloise Wilkin books.  As an adult, I find they evoke a happy nostalgia.   Her illustrations of children, often with their toys, their families, and their pets, are so sweet.

Eloise Wilkin was born in 1904 in Rochester, New York.  She studied art at the Rochester Institute of Technology.  Her early work included illustrating The Shining Hours, and designing paper dolls.

Ms. Wilkin signed a contract in 1944 with Golden Press to illustrate three Little Golden Books each year.  She used her children and grandchildren as models for the books she illustrated.  She illustrated 47 Little Golden Books, and later created a doll for Vogue dolls based on Baby Dear.

She passed on in 1987 (cancer), but her beautiful illustrations for children continue to live on.

I have several Eloise Wilkin books at Birdhouse Books, and always try to keep a few on my bookshelves!

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Mad Men Era Christmas Card - Secretary to Boss

Just had to share this great Christmas card with you!  It reminds me so much of Mad Men (one of my favorite TV shows).  The card features a secretary in Mid-Century days, and it is to her boss at Christmas time.  The vintage graphics are fabulous!  It is an unused card, with original envelope - and I think it would look great framed in an office!

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Born in the Kitchen: Plain and Fancy Plantation Fixin's - a rare cookbook by Flora Mae Hunter

Born in the Kitchen: Plain and Fancy Plantation Fixin's is a rare and hard to find vintage cookbook by Flora Mae Hunter.  Flora Mae Hunter was born on a plantation in Thomasville, Georgia in 1911.   In this book she recounts her life, growing up on a plantation, and shares many traditional Southern recipes.  This book is signed by Ms. Hunter with an inscription on the front endpaper.   The recipes look great!  The one that sounds especially tempting to me is Orange Cake with Chocolate Sundae Icing.  You'll find this book in my eBay store - Born in the Kitchen vintage cookbook at Birdhouse Books.  It would be of interest to anyone who collects Southern cookbooks, Black Americana, or Georgia history.

Thursday, July 19, 2012

Big Lots of Vintage Playing Cards - Single Swap Cards



I had so much fun putting these lots of vintage single swap playing cards together!  They are great for a collector, a dog lover, or anyone who loves vintage graphics and illustrations.   At Birdhouse Books I currently have a number of vintage playing card lots (click here to see!).

They include:


  • Scenthounds - Dachshunds, Beagles, and Basset Hounds
  • Terrier Dogs
  • Sporting Dogs - Retrievers, Pointers, and Setters
  • Transportation - Trains, Ships, Cars, and Travel
  • Animals - Bears, Ducks, Horses, Deer, and more
  • and a huge lot with a bit of everything!  (87 cards) - Coca Cola, advertisements, art, retro pop culture
Hope you'll pop by and visit - vintage playing cards at Birdhouse Books.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Vintage Treasures - Newly Arrived!

I have some fabulous new additions to my store, Birdhouse Books,, and wanted to share with you.  Some fun vintage photos to share here!

Playskool Match-A-Story Picture Puzzle - Copy Cat - 1968.  Super cute!


Vintage pink plastic shoe bank from Sansone's Department Store in Vernon - advertising Jumping Jacks shoes.

Fabulous Mid-Century ashtray from the Republic of Panama.


Remember Dawn Dolls?  I sure do - I loved them!  This is Angie, Dawn's brunette friend:


Big yellow plastic bunny rabbit bank - perfect for an Easter theme display.


A line up of red flocked reindeer ornaments, all with little bells around their necks.


LOVE - 1960's vintage drum major ornaments made of felt.  Similar to the popular vintage felt elf ornaments, but unique and different.


Little tourist souvenir vase celebrating Hawaii, The 50th State.


Wonderful big white plastic reindeer - vintage Christmas decoration.  Mid-Century in style and truly fab!


Tiny cabbage leaf tea cup and sauce - a dollhouse miniature or toy for child (as part of a tea set).


An old tin or metal store sign advertising Peerless Ice Cream, from a store in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.  Shabby chic and perfect for a vintage theme kitchen!


Brown striped California pottery vase by Madeline of California / Madeline Originals.   1960's vintage and RARE:


You'll find all these vintage goodies and more at Birdhouse Books!