I just love Kewpie Doll Postcards

A Deluxe Motel from the "good old days" Madera Motel California Highway 99

Madera, California -  Important center of world famous San Joaquin Valley. Pop 16,000 (much bigger now) in Fresno County.  Dry climate - 90% sunny.  Historic center of mining and lumber in El Dorado Days.  Gateway to Yosemite, Friant Dam, Millerton Lake and worlds largest trees, the Giant Sequoias.  I think the motel is still standing, but not sure.

http://tatteredandlostephemera.blogspot.com/2013/06/motel-hopping-madera-california.html

For another blog entry about a Madera Motel Postcard check out this link.

Easter is Coming

A rainy day with some good books.

Today is a rainy day (thankfully we need all we can get) so I have a blanket over my knees in my recliner writing this entry.  I have placed next to me some books to read for research.  First I have my  coffee in my Starbucks cup.

Next I will to do a little research about postcards.  Here are few books I have purchased over the years with the history of postcards. I have a pretty good source of information about these
Cards  and yet have only read the parts of these books.  So will check out the indexes today and do some reading.

Next research project will be dating fabrics.  These are two great referance books.

Even though this quilt block has the year 1939 I enjoy matching the fabrics with what is in the above books.  I think I have enough to keep me busy.

Collecting maps

Collecting Maps - different styles available

Pictorial - More artistic then technical illustrated maps were a common way to promote tourism in the early 20th century

Outdated boundaries - maps that feature obsolete state lines (like Dakotas for north and south)

Decorative Ornate borders illustrations, lithographs, engraved

Statistical these maps exhibit the distribution of townships, post offices, railways etc

Prominent Maker Created by top cartographer

Birds eye View - natural resources, large view of city, country

Topographical lithographs, shows topography of land like Crater Lake

Railroad Display the countries many RR lines,

If you are buying maps to resell, condition is everything unless very rare.

Postcards for Collectors

What 2 interests draw collectors in buying postcards?

1.  Interest in one's locality.  Students of local history  discover that a view card of their favorite town can give them a fuller and more accurate picture of what life was like 60 or 70 years.

2. Social History - which falls into many forms, Military, costume, transport, car enthusiasts

The picture postcard offers scope to specialists in many fields 

 Probably the most common is buying a postcard while you are traveling so you can mail to a friend or relative or keep as a remembrance of your trip.

Notes taken from Picture Postcards of the Golden Age, A Collectors Guide by Tonie and Valmai Holt

I have neglected my blog due to other events in my life.  I am doing well but am having surgery in about a week so have been gathering up bills to pay, and doing taxes hopefully tomorrow.  Mine are so simple but I sure like going to the tax man instead and I wont't make those silly errors I tend to do.  I am taking a break from eBay and have not done much with postcards except enjoy looking at them.  Instead I have been doing hand embroidery with samples below.  Today is the Daytona 500 NASCAR race and I am now getting a project ready to do while I watch the race.  Hope February has been a good month for you.