mid century Halloween Card Shop

Get in the Spirit with a Halloween Window!

Rust Craft would test and suggest various 

window displays for their distributors.  

This is their suggestion for a

 Halloween theme window 1957.

 excerpt as follows: 

Spooks, hobgoblins and witches will be in their favorite haunting grounds the night of October 31st !  Rust Craft suggests a window display which captures much of the spirit of the 'Witching Hour' by the use of traditional (but inexpensive) Halloween symbols and suggested use of colors.

When putting in your window, by all means use BLACK for your background; it will be a contrast for the colorful oranges and yellows of your Halloween cards, particularly Rust Craft........

In the upper half of your window...tack white masks on colorful party streamers.  Place your Rust Craft Window Streamer in the center  Cut out several bats from black cardboard...tie them to string or wire..  

Halloween wouldn't be complete without a witch...so tack up a cardboard witch, taking her annual broomstick ride, in the upper right hand corner...then add a crescent moon to brighten things up. 

  The friendly Rust Craft Ghost fits in the bottom left of your window along with grinning Jack O'Lantern! 

 The finished window won't frighten anyone...

but it will "scare up" lots of customers for 

Halloween cards and party goods!"

Oct 1957 Rustler

Interestingly, I didn't notice any Halloween cards or mention of them in the 1940s issues of Rust Craft that I have.  Although there certainly were Halloween cards they apparently didn't have the marketing value they soon developed. The Sept. and Oct. issues during WWII emphasized the marketing of Christmas cards and the importance of relaying to customers that they should mail early so that soldiers could receive cards in time for the holiday. I found this one pumpkin graphic in 1943 issue, whereas the 1957 issue of the dealer publication features a jack O'lantern on the cover as well as the above window suggestion.

1943 Rust Craft ad

Source: Rust Craft Rustler October 1957 and 1943

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see more
Rust Craft window suggestion for September 1957 

1972 Laughing Pumpkin

LAUGHING PUMPKIN 1972

 Laughing Pumpkin matched series - Party Paper Tableware

made by TUTTLE PRESS

 This cute series offered: 

Luncheon Napkins, Table Covers,

 7" and 9" Plates and Hot and Cold Cups

  Tuttle offered three floor and or 

counter display options to dealers, basically a small, medium and large, with varying product as shown in the images below taken from 1972 Fall and Christmas distribution catalog.

49 cent napkins and 69 cent table covers

Napkins and table covers, as well as, paper plates and hot/cold cups. for the counter or floor

the largest display-floor display only, four tiered, included two sizes of Napkins, table covers, 7" and 9" plates, hot/cold cups and hot cups, AND orange and black streamers.

 also available, was the FALL FESTIVAL series, 

 this picture shows example of the table cover and napkin display

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a few questions for my collecting friends

 I made a little survey about collecting greeting cards, 

please check it out!

 https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/R75Z8QB Click here to take survey .


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Charlot Byj Greeting Card Roots

 Charlot Byj was an amazing artist who found her way into 

Franz Goebel's figurine factory by way of her

work in the greeting card industry.

redhead in candy shop ...that dress! those boots! the kitten! the hat! the braids! that face! so sweet♥

As her well told tale goes...... 

1940s art school graduate Charlot Byj ducked

into a greeting card shop to get out of the rain. 

There she admired some greeting cards and noted the name of the publisher whom she later contacted for an interview...she was hired and  began creating charming characters for illustrating greeting cards, .

the candies! the colors!

Her cards featured playful children with exquisite details

There was Shabby O'Hair, his sister Raggy Muffin, and their ample mother, M'Lady O'Hair, to name a few

Still Spooning!

Charlot's blond children tend to portray serene characters

whereas the redheads are known for their mischievousness
(SHOCKING, I know!!! ..... redheaded children.....mischievousness????!!! hahaha)

Been Saving Up........

These wishes for your Birthday!

it's pretty easy to see what why Charlot's work caught the eye of Franz Goebel........ isn't that the guy who made Hummels? Yes, it is! 

in the 1950s Franz Goebel invited Charlot to the W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik factory in Germany. There she worked with  master sculptor Arthur Moeller and 
created her first figurine "Strike" 1957

Over nearly a 30 yr period (1957-1988) Goebel produced 
100+ different figurines from Charlot's artwork. 
Charlot lived until August 7,1983.

Taking Great Pains.....

To wish You a HONEY of a Birthday!

loving the line of honey "pots"

 the W. Goebel Porzellanfabrik company, has it's own long and interesting history. You can read more about them by Dr. Lori HERE

ARS SACRA, Herbert Dubler, Inc.published Charlot's cards.

also Harry Doehla offered boxed sets: "Fine Arts" line

 there's a wealth of Charlot Byj collectibles on available to browse on EBAY
......here's a link to that search    charlotByj on Ebay
each and everyone is totally adorable♥

Sources and more info:
Luckey's Hummel Figurines & Plates, 11th edition

 The Hummel Pictures by Dr. Franz Julius Tschudy
article focusing on Hummel printing and Ars Sacra history http://www.hummel-art.com/career/pictures.html

Goebel History Woolvey article

http://woolvey.com/goebel-history-a-3.html

we make a life by what we give...

 i love these!

We make a living by what we get;  we make a life by what we give

 made by ABBEY PRESS 

circa 1970s

you're my FRIEND you know all about me and still you like ME!

 ABBEY PRESS is an international company which is operated by the 

  Benedictine monks 

at Saint Meinrad Archabbey 

in Spencer county, Indiana, USA 

where they also have a Seminary and School of Theology 

Don't think of ways to get love...think of ways to give love

 the Saint Meinrad Archabbey was founded in 1854  

the Catholic monks who live there 

devote their lives to work and prayer.

....so, the story goes..... 

the monks purchased a used printing press in 1867 

and ABBEY PRESS was born

Happiness is not something that can be practiced ...It is a feeling, a result of that is born of loving

 Abbey Press is, of course, known for their

beautiful inspirational products

you can visit their gift shop online at this link

ABBEY PRESS GIFTSHOP

these cute hanging message scrolls came with a mailing envelope ~ready to send!

 sources and additional info:
http://www.abbeypress.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Meinrad_Archabbey
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Gold Crown found at local thrift shop!

Mom and I went junk'n recently......
junk'n with my mother is not for the faint-at-heart!  Her combined energy and knowledge makes for an EPIC and INFORMATIVE day! Mom has been dealing antiques all my life and pretty much all of hers, too!   We covered 4 counties, hitting 9 of our favorite thrift shops! so FUN!

like all good "JUNK BRATS" it is not uncommon to find me digging through boxes, crawling around in dusty~musty places and rescuing discarded treasures.....

here is one of my FINDS from our day of hunting.........

circa 1980s Hallmark Gold Crown wrapping paper!

The Hallmark Gold Crown is, of course, recognized worldwide and symbolizes the "very best"!
in 1949 Hallmark began using the five-point gold crown

 soooo.... I was inspired to pull some more Hallmark wrapping paper examples from my piles collection :) 

too adorable... what a Birthday cake!  Happy Birthday "A Hallmark Wrapping"...original price 25 ¢

Hallmark used strips of the same printed paper to make their label and wrap around the sheets for packaging

"Brides Lace" 2 sheets 25 ¢

The Hall Brothers essentially fell into "inventing" what we think of as modern day gift wrap.  In the early 1900s solid color tissue papers were used to "dress" packages.  As the story goes..... the Hall Brothers ran out of this gift paper during the busy 1917 Christmas season and resorted to selling sheets of pretty decorative French envelope lining papers, which were well received by their customers and sold out quickly! The Brothers began printing their own sheets of decorative wrapping papers.

Hallmark All Occasion Wrap....packaged in cellophane... original price 35 ¢

Bridal Shower Gift Wrap original price 50 ¢

Shower Gift Wrap original price 50 ¢

Victorian style Birthday Wrap original price  65 ¢

Baby Shower Gift Wrap original price  65  ¢

Baby Gift Wrap original price 90 ¢

source and further information:  Hallmark Early Innovations 1910s-30s

you can find old store stock Hallmark cards listed in my Etsy shop....
http://www.etsy.com/shop/vintagerecycling

check out my Mom's vintage finds, too!!  http://www.etsy.com/shop/nancesnostalgia

Holly Hobbie Valentine Flashback

vintage Holly Hobbie ~ American Greetings

it's time to say Happy Valentine's Day!

I'm stuck on you Valentine!

being Valentines with you is more fun then a picnic!

Don't play games Valentine~~Be Mine!

It's a real TREAT to wish you Happy Valentine's Day!

 these last three show some of
Holly's earlier illustrations copyright 1967..

so charming.......love, love, love them!

I've got my eye on you!

You're invited.....to be my Valentine

 

...Holly is stitching a heart onto her beau ...... her dolly at their feet..

Have a heart Valentine....MINE!

......he's got something for her behind his back, too! :)

 read more about Holly Hobbie and American Greetings HERE

browse vintage Valentines available for purchase HERE

WWII vintage wartime Valentines for Soldiers

 wars have had their share of impact on the greeting card industry. for example WWII affected the flow of greeting cards coming from  Europe providing opportunities for American card makers.  The war also created an environment where family had need to keep in touch~  Populations spread~many families who had lived in the same area for generations were geographically separated and greeting card businesses flourished.  American Greetings reports that Jacob Sapirstein ~AG founder~had "six artists creating red-white-and-blue cards with patriotic rhymes to help families connect the home front with the front line."

here are some beautiful examples  c. 1940s Valentines designed for special soldiers

"To my Soldier Sweetheart on Valentine's Day" Die cut heart with red paper detail ...embossed golden eagle

beautiful colorful pansies printed inside as well ...

To YOU in the Service

patriotic colors...glittery embellishment....

"A Story is told in this Valentine, today....I have held it close and this is the way....  Your words I remember, Your secrets I share,  Your fondness I love, Your heart is in my care.... When I am lonesome, and tired, too...I try to smile, and think of You...MY VALENTINE...."

 honest and sweet.... I just love it...

see more WWII greeting cards HERE

Vintage Valentines for sale HERE