Tuesday 10 April 2012

Michigan State Compact


Some say the one thing you should do when collecting is to collect around a theme. I say no you don't. As you can tell I collect all kinds of compacts and the only "theme" I really have is collecting vintage souvenir compacts of places we've been. So to add to my Pennsylvania and Chicago compacts is this squared map of Michigan. This style with a silver backdrop and gold mapping is one familiar with a lot of American city and state compact souvenirs and is typical of the 1950s. They often feature main cities, the state capital marked with a star [in this case Lansing] with depictions of items representing the state - here we see the car [Detroit being Motor City] with fishing and sailing in Lake Michigan and Huron.

It may be daring but I'd suggest this compact was produced before 1957 since its missing the construction of the Mackinac Bridge linking the Upper and Lower Peninsulas by Mackinaw City. Merely because it's the third longest suspension bridge in the USA if it had been standing at the same time the compact was made, I would have imagined it would have made it's mark on the map.

This compact may not be in the best of condition with some scuffs and marks around the edges it is still a compact that hasn't been used and is complete with a sift and a puff. As many people say you should only buy compacts in mint condition if your collecting, I say you don't have to if you find pleasure even in the most marked of compacts.

15 comments:

  1. that compact is absolutely adorable!! i really want to get one of washington now!
    xo TJ

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    1. There's probably one out there, a lot of them seem to be part of a similar collection.

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  2. Holy moly. I would have never imagined a compact like that ever! That's so totally RAD. Do you have a subcollection of US maps compacts?

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

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    1. Yeah I have a mini sub-collection of souvenir compacts of places that we've been, some are maps some have tourist destinations printed on them.

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  3. this is SO fabulous- really unique piece

    Jordan xx
    - Boho Vanity Giveaway -

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  4. Very unusual! I agree with you about collecting - sometimes the less perfect an item is, the more interesting and special can be.
    Liz @ Shortbread & Ginger

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    1. Shows that it's had a life before, and that's what I love about old things whatever they are.

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  5. That is an amazing compact! Your collection must be a delight of treasure.
    Love v

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  6. Oh my god this is really beautiful, I love old compacts :)

    Lucy Loves To Blog

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    1. Thank you - I love having compacts based around places I've been - they really are meaningful to me.

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  7. Hey! this is a quick response to a titanic comment you left on my post - the itv drama is amazing! Everyone I know is completely hooked on it.. not sure why the critics are being so harsh x

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  8. Such a beautiful compact and I often find the beauty is often in imperfection when it comes to collecting. For me whatever I am collecting I always collect with my heart, I like it regardless of age or wear xxx

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    1. Luckily the worn out ones tend to go a little cheaper because people don't want them. That makes me feel like i'm really giving them a new life. Luckily I know how to clean them so i'm not fussed about having to spend a couple of minutes tidying them up and making them nicer.

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