Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Today's Inspiration: The Bee Keeper's Review

I really think that those years between 1860 and the 1890's are the best time for printed matter of any kind (books, advertising...). I think it has something to do with the typography and handwriting styles, but I can't exactly pinpoint it. My love affair first started a few years ago when I watched this really low budget documentary on quilt making. There were so many images of beautiful factory advertisements from that period and I've been obsessed ever since. I've recently spent a lot of time with lots and lots of Bee Keeping books, from the 1860's to the early 1920's and of course - the ones from the later part of the 19th century are best!


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Okay, okay - so a few snuck in from the early part of the 20th century - but I'm telling you, after that - the pretty images and fancy font goes away! 

The second best thing about these bee journals? They have great photographs and funny little illustrations!!! 

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37 comments:

  1. SunshineJanuary 14, 2009 at 9:35 PM

    o i must agree! i've long loved and collected vintage ephemera and this really is the height of engraving & printing. they are the style the signs and ads for my shop will be :D

    i need to get a look at some beekeeping books now

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  2. DeborahJanuary 14, 2009 at 9:49 PM

    They really did make beautiful ads back then, they took a lot more time to design them. I wish ads were a work of art today instead of just annoying.

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  3. The Thriftaholic (Leilani)January 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM

    The fonts are amazing... I also love the natural history drawings from that era. :) (Also, I didn't know beekeeping was so popular back then!)

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  4. Anja VerdugoJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:13 PM

    I love these! I had a neat 1930's bee book (ABC and XYZ of Bee Culture) that had some cool old illustrations in it, but not as many as this! Bees are awesome. I gave the book to our friends who have a hive. :)

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  5. EloiseJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:15 PM

    Gorgeous! 'The Secret Life of Bee's' by Sue Monk Kidd is one of my favorite pieces of American literature. These illustrations you have here are wonderful x

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  6. UnknownJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:33 PM

    So awesome, especially the "American Bee Journal" with the portrait of the man on the front. Love it!

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  7. KATLINJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:52 PM

    Love how elaborate and detailed their fonts were then!

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  8. jeff allenJanuary 14, 2009 at 10:59 PM

    One time, Burns and I were in his truck reading this book about bees on the side of a busy road. When all of a sudden a hornet landed on his shoulder! He jumped out of the car and doored a bike messenger, the bee was still on his shoulder so the messenger understood. True story mouse...

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  9. Anna Wallace January 14, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    these are amazing. great finds! my aunt is a beekeeper and i know she would totally die for stuff like this.

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  10. lilly piriJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:47 AM

    These are just exquisite! I'm looking forward to keeping bees when i'm older and have the space. I can't eat enough comb honey.

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  11. MissaJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:58 AM

    These are so wonderful, thanks for sharing!

    It's funny, I named my daughter Clover and Missa is short for Melissa which means 'honey bee'. I only later realized this connection. These illustrations reminded me of it :)

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  12. amy merrickJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:46 AM

    These are wonderful, you are wonderful!

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  13. Secondhand StellaJanuary 15, 2009 at 9:35 AM

    I have an small old book about bees from the 1920's that was my grandmother's when she was little. Bees scare me (even pictures of them) but I love it b/c it was hers.

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  14. UnknownJanuary 15, 2009 at 10:50 AM

    P.S. Since your blog has so many fantastic images, I decided I would tag you in this "fourth of fourth" game.

    1. Go to the 4th folder in your computer where you store your pictures.
    2. Pick the 4th picture in that folder.
    3. Explain the picture.
    4. Tag 4 people to do the same!

    I'd love to see what comes up randomly in your magnificent photo collection so I hope you decide to do it!

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  15. Sally Jane VintageJanuary 15, 2009 at 11:03 AM

    Hiya lil' lady! Be on the lookout for a package... I think it should arrive today. :)

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  16. AnonymousJanuary 15, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    oh they really are beautiful!
    i was just wondering if you dlike to exchange links with me?
    i love your blog,and i adore your style!it would be an honour
    let me know if you have the time
    much love
    www.thepelicanandme.blogspot.com

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  17. reckless daughterJanuary 15, 2009 at 1:26 PM

    very interesting. I love the illustrations - so much more interesting then plain old print.


    Are you into bee keeping or just collecting literature on the subject?

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  18. JessicaJanuary 15, 2009 at 2:03 PM

    These are so beautiful! I have always been fascinated by old illustrations and typography. I especially love the page with the clovers, and the Extracted sign for some reason.

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  19. Emily BlackappleJanuary 15, 2009 at 4:09 PM

    Goodness, these are beautiful! Thanks so much for sharing them.

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  20. PennyJanuary 15, 2009 at 4:53 PM

    i agree! they are beautiful!!! i love that art nouveau style. especially the one with the man in the bowler hat! x

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  21. JessicaJanuary 15, 2009 at 7:33 PM

    'extracted' has made my nite. sweet dreams.

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  22. KallieJanuary 15, 2009 at 8:55 PM

    these are so nice. my boyfriend is getting a bee tattoo.... i'm going to have to show him this post for references.

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  23. UnknownJanuary 15, 2009 at 11:27 PM

    That is the most fabulous piece of ephemera I have seen! I wish I could find beautiful things like that in Australia, it has made my day!
    Sophie x

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  24. sarahJanuary 16, 2009 at 1:51 AM

    ooh the typography...

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  25. LexieJanuary 16, 2009 at 2:11 AM

    i love vintage prints - even if they're just ads! these are great!

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  26. Lady CJanuary 16, 2009 at 9:36 AM

    just beautiful... why don't adverts look like this anymore?

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  27. Pampi!January 16, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    Hey Francesca!

    I plan to write a master's thesis on Boston Street Style. I need a catalogue of images and fashion commentary on Boston's street styles in order to write this paper. I was wondering whether you'd be interested in being a subject and/or collaborating with me. You can do as little or as much as you want. I am still tweaking what exactly I'd like to study. This is essentially my first attempt at reserach and so I'm putting out feelers to local fashion bloggers.

    Cheers,
    Pampi!
    smahtstreetstyle@gmail.com

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  28. imwithsullyJanuary 16, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    An amazing blog find from black apple. Great name!!

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  29. MichelleJanuary 16, 2009 at 12:49 PM

    I wish we still had this Bee Journal here in Chicago

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  30. smussyolayJanuary 16, 2009 at 1:39 PM

    i LOAVE bees. a friend forwarded me this link and i am so grateful. one of my next tattoos (i only have one currently) will be bee oriented and this page is going to be SO helpful. i want the bees to be real and authentic looking and these pictures and stuff are just exactly what i've been looking for for inspiration ... all the other stuff i've found on the internet has been very lacking.

    YAY!! bees!!

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  31. UnknownJanuary 17, 2009 at 1:21 AM

    oh, i love all of these, i wish i had them! well done...and i was wondering if i could borrow (with credit to your blog of course) some of these images to post on my bee themed blog at http://beehaunting.blogspot.com
    :)

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  32. Micah CJanuary 17, 2009 at 10:24 PM

    Love this post!! My dad is a fourth generation beekeeper - where did you find these - something like these would look fabulous in his office.

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  33. alexandra greccoJanuary 18, 2009 at 4:13 PM

    i love these! so beautiful! xx

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  34. Miss WoodyJanuary 19, 2009 at 10:16 AM

    oh gorgeous gorgeous! where have you find all this?

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  35. Illuminated PerfumeJanuary 19, 2009 at 11:49 PM

    Bravo, this is fantastic!! Quite
    Bee tiful. Thank you.

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  36. ACQUIREFebruary 13, 2009 at 12:46 PM

    Amazing! I love these. Have you framed any of these? I bet they would look great in a grouping.

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  37. ACQUIREFebruary 13, 2009 at 12:47 PM

    Amazing! I love these. Have you framed any of these? I bet they would look great in a grouping.

    ReplyDelete