Tag Archives: antique

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1969 magazine ad for Lanvin’s My Sin perfume
1969 magazine ad for Lanvin’s My Sin perfume

Bone shards:

“What the hell am I smelling and why is it so wonderful? …Whatever the notes are, they’ve converged to create a sexual flower, one that is at its peak of fragrance, like a meadow in full bloom on the hottest spring day, visited by the horniest, healthiest bees.” — from a My Sin review

Lanvin’s My Sin was formulated by a mysterious Russian perfumer named Madame Zed.

What is dusting powder (one of the variations listed at the bottom of the ad)?

Black cats are awesome. You should adopt one from a shelter.

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Sealed with a kiss and probably a paper cut.

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1947 magazine ad for Eaton’s Fine Letter Papers
1947 magazine ad for Eaton’s Fine Letter Papers

When was the last time you write a real letter, you cold and heartless monster?

Bone shards:

This company was founded in 1893 to manufacture social stationery. Social stationery. The first social media?

Feel like writing somebody a real letter? Etsy and eBay have some sellers with vintage Eaton stationery.

I know you can’t wait to read about the history of paper.

You wanna go old-old school? I got ya — the history of papyrus.

Remember Cursive?

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Meatier. Plumper. Tighter.

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No, this isn’t an ad for Dr. Porkenheimer’s Boner Juice; it’s for bananas!

1967 magazine ad for Chiquita Bananas / United Fruit Company
1967 magazine ad for Chiquita Bananas / United Fruit Company

Bone shards:

Who is Luther Burbank, the dude mentioned in the body copy? Without him, there wouldn’t be french fries.

Ever hear of a banana republic? You can thank these guys for that.

There are over a thousand different types of bananas, including the ice cream banana.

Did you know those gross stringy things on a banana have a name? Phloem bundles! That’s one of my favorite bits of useless knowledge.

Stephen Colbert and Gwen Stefani once argued over the spelling of bananas.

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The disturbing joy of a new romance.

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Germaine Monteil’s Laughter perfume magazine ad found in a 1946 issue of Art News
Germaine Monteil’s Laughter perfume magazine ad found in a 1946 issue of Art News

I’m mostly sharing this ad just for that one line of copy. It’s a beaut.

Bone shards:

Laughter was Germaine Monteil’s first perfume. It was later rebranded as Rigolade, which is French for “joke”.

Laughter took eight years to develop. “It smells good too.” — Esquire, 1951

“Beauty is not a gift, rather the combination of natural charisms, personal style and expert care.” — Germaine Monteil

Is laughter the best medicine?

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Playa please.

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Magazine ad for Player’s Navy Cut tobacco from a 1902 issue of Country Life magazine (the UK one, not the USA one).
Magazine ad for Player’s Navy Cut tobacco from a 1902 issue of Country Life magazine (the UK one, not the USA one).

Bone shards:

Player’s Navy Cut was discontinued in 2016. Not a bad run.

One of its slogans in the 1920s was “Player’s Please”. It’s a long shot, but I think it’s possible this was an early version of the more recent “Playa please.”

And yes, “Me likee” is a racist stereotype. Don’t do that.

Detail: Notice the “Hero” on the sailor’s hat.

And just because, here’s a possible origin for “Put that in your pipe and smoke it.”

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A peacock “has angels’ feathers, a devil’s voice, and the walk of a thief.”

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It’s been quite a week, so here’s the cover of my copy of January 1934’s Country Life magazine. The masthead has some design issues but the artwork is sublime.

This took a long time to reach me, but it was worth the wait.

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Oh, like a wizard bear never grabbed your ass while you were playing video games in the shopping mall arcade.

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Cheeky.
Cheeky.
A 1983 magazine ad for Atari’s Crystal Castles.
A 1983 magazine ad for Atari’s Crystal Castles.

Bone shards:

Bentley Bear makes an appearance in Wreck-It Ralph!

Crystal Castles was a trackball game. And now I’m having Marble Madness flashbacks.

Crystal Castles is now a Canadian band.

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Mexico, the Italy of America

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A 1904 magazine ad for Southern Pacific
A 1904 magazine ad for Southern Pacific

Ok, we have a few scenic stops mentioned in this ad, but sadly, no travel brochure. I guess we’ll just have to settle for the Internet.

The Ruins of Mitla

The Catacombs of Guanajuato. Bring your mummy.

The Pyramids of Cholula

The Valley and Hills of Monterey
Hmm… Monterey is in California, but there is an Monterrey in Mexico. Quite lovely.

Ok, not gonna lie… This trip would be amazeballs. That’s a good thing.

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What rolls down stairs, alone or in pairs?

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I forgot to write down the comic book and year this Lincoln Logs ad came from, but I think it was from an issue of Roy Rogers.
I forgot to write down the comic book and year this Lincoln Logs ad came from, but I think it was from an issue of Roy Rogers.

Bone shards:

Lincoln Logs were invented by John Lloyd Wright, son of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The first set came with instructions to build 1) Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home and 2) Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

“Interesting playthings typifying the spirit of America.”

The last five letters in “Playskool” are considered to be a “sensational spelling” of “school. SENSATIONAL SPELLING. It’s a thing.

The Log Song!

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