Trading Cards

One "fun" thing about

packing up all the closets and cupboards

is that I've come across some

items I'd forgotten about.

Note: I use the word "fun" lightly

Back at the beginnings of Ebay

it was so interesting to be able
see and find new and unusual things.  

Things I couldn't find in my
 little neck of the woods.

I got interested in the world of

ephemera

No, that's not a disease,
but the collecting

of written or printed material that

was intended not to be long lasting.

One of my interests was in
the trading cards that the Singer Manufacturing Co
printed  and distributed
as part of an aggressive advertising plan.

One give away group of cards was in preparation for

Chicago's 1892 Great Colombian World Fair.

Singer commissioned a famous series of 36 trade cards,

 called "Costumes of All Nations".

The cards were printed lithographs taken

from photographs which were taken by their agents in different countries.

The customers were  dressed in their national costumes. 

The backs of the cards

reveal an "interesting attitude"

towards all these different cultures.

 I love the fact that these

cards show the same country, but

the men and women each have a separate card.

It appeared that Singer was ready to 

civilize the world with their sewing machine.

 

With a Singer, life was going to be better.

 These cards are interesting too.

 They only show men with the sewing machine.

Millions of these sets of cards

were given away.

People loved them as a window on the world.

Singer continued issuing several different sets.

 These cards are from 1894

The color and detail is really lovely.

 They kept expanding their cards

 as they expanded their marketing in all 

corners of the globe.

Singer continued to show the world how progressive 

having a sewing machine was.

In many cases you have to study your geography

because these regions or countries

have changed.

 They kept printing these cards until

the beginning of WWI.

The cards are an interesting look

at cultural history nearly

a hundred twenty years ago.

 Until Next Time-

Change

Aristotle said.
Change in all things is sweet.

And
Heraclitus said,
There is nothing permanent except change.

I have a full disclosure to make:
There's a SOLD sign in my front yard.

Not quite what I was planning,
but through the course of many
events it's happening.

It's still a sense of disbelief,

but as the days move on
it's a feeling that I am now embracing.

This kind of change is
quite disruptive to the normal

ebb and flow of life.

It basically entails touching

every single object you have acquired in your home.

 Looking at all those things,

  and making a decision to keep
or discard.

Slowly, the disorder

becomes order as objects are packed

or dispensed to other happy recipients.

The hard part will be disconnecting

with this sweet house on the lake.

But we know
change brings opportunities.

And we're ready to make

those new discoveries.

Well, maybe once all these
blooming boxes are packed.

And our move is only about
5 miles away.

Until Next Time-

The Freedom Tail Verses The Food Trail

 Boston is a city

 that has American history

 around every corner.

Just follow 

the Freedom Trail and

history becomes alive.

There's another trail that you can follow,

but there are no markers in the sidewalk.

 It lead through an exciting part of the city,

known as the Italian North End.

It's a delicious part of the city.

There are almost 100 eating establishments,

from coffee shops, tiny sandwich shops, old family

run Italian American restaurants, from trattories to elegant restorantes.

We took a Boston  Food Tour 

and enjoyed every minute as we

 wound our way through many shops and samples.

 Not on the tour, but sweet

just the same,

was our pilgrimage

 to Mike's Pastry.

Paul Revere verses a cannoli?

Both equally Boston.

 Until Next Time-