Monday 16 April 2012

VINTAGE: The Household Guides

Retro 1950 sewing book
Retro 1950 sewing book
Retro 1950s sewing book

If you all remember one of the things we were really looking forward to about the weekend was getting back out to some of the local estate sales [the trip to the Eastern Market got rained off] which we went out to in earnest. A few big things caught our eye, from a chaise lounge which needed totally reupholstering and possibly had damp from sitting in an unfinished basement to a rather old, mirrored cabinet for my compacts [if you clicky the links it'll take you the estate agents photographs of said items]. Sadly they were asking a lot for both for us to really consider when we need to save pennies so we let them go.

Nevertheless we didn't leave empty handed. Often if you go on Saturdays [often the second sale day] they start dropping prices. So books had dropped form $1 each to 50cents. How could you resist?! There as a set of books that really caught my eye all under the subtitle of Household Guides published in the 1950s. I just had to grab the sewing guide and the how to about etiquette.  Sewing guides never date and it's always good to have a variety of books explaining how to do things, I think I might start a mini collection of sewing book, their drawings alone are gorgeous and I've included some above for you to look at.

I could never do justice trying to describe to you about the New Book of Etiquette, the best thing would be to share some of the quotes with you;

Men should take the curb side of the pavement whether he is walking with one woman, or with several ... if they [men] come to a puddle of water, he crosses first, and from the other side offers her his hand to help her across. 

No gentleman will insists upon paying a fare when the women has indicated her intention of paying it herself.

Any public display of attention is ill breed. Love is sacred and beautiful and it should not be thrown open to the rude comments of strangers.

It is always wise to consult the young lady is determining the choice of the [engagement] ring, and it is her privilege to choose whatever kind she wants regardless of tradition or convention. 

It is by far the best plan for the young people to be married as soon as they have come to know each other well enough - which should be three or four months after their engagement.

No later then fifteen days and not earlier than four weeks before the date set for the marriage, wedding invitations are sent.

If you talk constantly about yourself and about things that interest you, it will not be long before you are regarded as a bore.

Don't talk about the weather, unless it has been so phenomenally bad or good that people are eager to discuss it [that will teach us the English to constantly talk about the weather right?!]

Originally I had intended to sell this guide to etiquette but after reading it, it's too hard to give away. While it's old fashioned and I'm glad times have moved on, it's a must to keep.

Have you found any interesting goodies lately?

15 comments:

  1. Ah this stuff's really cute - I've been baking from my Mam's 20-30 year old cookbook lately, it's the Bero Centenery Edition, I love it!

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    1. You can't go wrong with a Bero cook book! Although the recipes seem really simple and basic, they are some of the most tasty recipes i've come across! I moved with one of my mams really really old ones that she handed down, probably around the same age of yours, it's all dusty with old flour!

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  2. oh those books look lovely! i love the one about paying a fare, me and my boyfriend always argue over things like that!

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    1. Yeah I love the ones about how a man should be a gentleman and walk the closest to the curb - so funny just thinking how much customs have changed in all of 60 years.

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  3. Those illustrations are brilliant and what's not to love about those 50s typefaces!

    Jem xXx

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    1. So many reasons why I love old books, the thickness of the paper to the font and all the cute detailing in the drawings.

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  4. How cute are those books! Talk about a bargain, can't believe you managed to get them so cheap!

    Charlee
    xxx

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    1. I know and I totally wouldn't of minded paying the original price for them either. That's what makes estate sales so good, particularly for books - they get really cheap!

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  5. oh my gosh, I would totally keep these too! They are so amazing and darling :)

    ♥ laura
    the blog of worldly delights
    the shop of worldly delights

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  6. Yay what a fabulous find and all the for 50c each. Happiness is handy great vintage finds for little amounts.
    Love v

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  7. Oh my God I want that etiquette book so much! Great finds

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  8. These books are so lovely. I adore old sewing books for their illustrations alone, I could quite happily collect them too. Definitely worth buying xxx

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