Vintage Ephemera

Vintage menu for Nixon's Family Restaurant in Whittier, California. Included are the daily specials from Monday, September 12, 1955.

Vintage menu for Lucas B&B Restaurant in Dallas, Texas. Circa 1950's.

Serviceman's cartoon keepsake of Oahu, Hawaii, showing many of the military and civilian landmarks. 1946.

So what's all the intrigue at Mickey Mouse's Birthday Party? I guess I'll have to play the record to figure out what it is Goofy seems to already know...

WARNING!! WARNING!! Jonathan Harris signed glossy featuring himself in the role of Dr. Smith, along with his favorite bubble-headed booby, the Robot from Lost In Space.

This Victorian children's booklet of "Watt's Songs Against Evil" contains warnings against pride in clothes, sloth, evil company, and theft. No date given, but probably 1880's.

"Against Pride In Clothes" This Victorian children's booklet of "Watt's Songs Against Evil" contains warnings like the one above against pride in clothes, as well as sloth, evil company, and theft. No date given, but probably 1880's.

"I don't want to - " Who hasn't had a day like this? Vintage postcard from 1910.

“Kansas Calling You!” A thoroughly enchanting postcard espousing the virtues of the middle-western state. “Room for a Million!” Copyrighted 1911

The grandeur that was once the sprawling Pabst Brewery in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Postcard circa 1908.

“Garden Hose Inspection Day” A whimsical advertising postcard reminding recipients to look over their garden hoses. A new 50 foot hose cost $6.50 – no small amount in the 1920’s! Sent by Harley R. Lugibihl, Main St., Blufton, Ohio

Remember the Wienermobile? Oscar Meyer advertising postcard, 1950's

Vintage lithographed postcard advertising Emil Harder's 1925 production of William Tell.

Antique trade card for Fairbank's Family Lard featuring a dapper Piggy Marner - probably 1880's.

One of the perks of leafing through an old comic is unquestionably the ads - for everything from hordes of plastic army men and Red Ryder B.B. guns to bodybuilding courses and dance instruction to giant balloons and cardboard forts - and, in the case above, ads for other comic books! Looking back in our rear-view mirror, some of the issues advertised are of course mundane; others, however, like the ad pictured above for the first issue of The Justice League of America, fuel the imagination. Ironically, these ads tend to appear in companion magazines which are not themselves all that significant, but had that shiny dime been spent instead on the book pictured, it could be worth thousands! October 1960.

In this pictorial softcover book, the sultan of swat, Babe Ruth, offers advice on everything from fielding and base-running as well hitting the home runs that made him the most famous athlete - if not of all-time - then at least for the first half of the twentieth century. Babe Ruth's Baseball Advice by Rand McNally, 1936. Measures about 8-1/2 by 11.

"After reading this over, step to your phone and call Bittersweet 2610." Check out the prices on those classic old Ford Motor cars and trucks! Circa 1920's.