Vintage Cat Bookmark: 1919 Emerson Book

I bought this book at a book fair in the spring. It is from 1919, was written by Emerson, and has an interesting green leather cover with Art Nouveau art. My mom is currently reading it and it appears she is the first person in all these years to do so--she has to slice the pages apart with a letter opener! 

That said, someone at least picked it up in the past and slipped a bookmark inside, cause as she was reading it this little guy fell out from the pages! Oh the delights of vintage books!

1898 Art Nouveau Book

 Not too long ago I was picking up some old art magazines from a library archives building. While lifting one of the boxes of magazines onto a trolley, a book in another box caught my eye. I saw something turquoise and ornate, and pulled out this Art Nouveau beauty.

I cracked it open and found that it was printed in 1898! As I was flipping through it, I turned to the elderly woman who was the volunteer book sorter helping me with the magazines and asked where this book was going. She said to a used book store. I asked how much it would cost there. She said probably around $30. We flipped through it some more. I drooled. She saw me drooling. She said she'd give it to me for $5. I grabbed some change out of my coat pocket.   

And now it's sitting in my house.

It is such a fancy book--complete with a gilt pages and golden lily motifs on the covers!

As it turns out, it is a French biography about Capitaine Belletable. I guess I'll have to read it to find out what made this dude so special.

Something I love about old books is the bookmarks that hide in them. I found this perfectly-penned list (look at that calligraphy!) snuggled between the pages.

What a find!

Apollo Art History

 This pretty art history book from 1924 only set me back a few cents at a book sale.

I love the classical appearance created by the olive green, gold text, and gold seal.

It covers the origins of art to the art of the 19th Century. 

Sidenote: something I love about old books is the potential for unexpected bookmarks. This recipe for "Dandy Candy"(on a strawberry card no less!) fell out of the index and made me chuckle.