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The Dickens Calendar

The Dickens Calendar 1896

Quotes from the British novelist and social critic, Charles John Huffam Dickens, became the subject of a series of calendars produced by Raphael Tuck & Sons. The company sold pictures, greeting cards, and later, post cards to which they are credited with contributing to the “postcard boom” of the late 1890s and early 1900s.

The first Dickens calendar was published in 1896. Each month page of the calendar illustrates a quote from Charles Dickens. The individual pages are secured on two rings through pre-punched holes.

The Dickens Calendar 1896

Dickens is also known for his iconic hairstyles as evidenced on the January page of the 1896 calendar.

#dickens #raphaeltuck #vintagecalendars #charlesdickens

 

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Original Steamboat Willie Now in Public Domain

In 1928, Walt Disney Studios produced a black and white cartoon short film called Steamboat Willie. The film is credited with being a first in synchronizing a cartoon with a fully produced sound track. Although Steamboat Willie was the third of the Mickey Mouse’s films, it was the first to be distributed. The plot of the short film has Mickey Mouse piloting a river paddle steamship. Other characters in the movie include, Minnie Mouse,  and Captain Pete.

Due to some inconsistencies in the original copyright formulation, this first Mickey Mouse film became public domain on January 1st of 2024.  The depiction of Mickey Mouse from the Steamboat Willie film is sure to be used on many print-on-demand items including t-shirts, mugs, pillows and more.

Ring in the New Year with a shirt, or other POD product, sporting the image of a cartoon character newly entered into the public domain!

See on Amazon

See on Teepublic

 

#steamboatwillie #pickleball #mickeyplayspickleball #funnypickleball #teespublic

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The Nostalgic Fiction of Wendell Berry

Wendell Erdman Berry (born August 5, 1934) is a man of many talents including poet, essayist, environmental activist, cultural critic, novelist, and farmer. He is a very prolific writer with an impressive collection of poems, essays, short stories and novels. He has won countless literary awards from 1958 to present.

I am more familiar with Wendell Berry’s novels and short stories that chronical agrarian, rural life centered around the fictional town of Port William, Kentucky. There is continuous connection of characters in the whole collection of stories, either by farming families or close -knit communities tied together by need, grace and emotional histories.

I never tire of Berry’s descriptions of times long past and the hard work that went into building relationships as well as small farms and communities. His novels evoke such imagery that you can imagine you are there, sharing in the struggles of Mat Feltner (A Place on Earth) or The Memory of Old Jack. I’ve shed many a tear reading these moving stories. Many times after completing a book and closing the back cover, I’ve sat and reflected on the characters to which I’ve felt a strong kinship and longing to go back to a simpler time.

I recommend starting with the very first Port William novel, Nathan Coulter, and continue from there. My favorite Port William stories include:

#wendellberry #portwilliam

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Sunripe Railway Centenary Series of Tobacco Cards

In 1925, Spinet House of London and Sunripe Cigarettes produced a series of 50 train cards commemorating 100 years of trains. The tobacco cards include 50 individual photos documenting the centenary evolution of trains as well as dignitaries of the time. The cards are numbered with descriptions on the backs of the cards. This collection advertises Sunripe’s “extra size” cigarettes that were sold with or without cork tips.

A collection of 43 of the 50 vintage cards is for sale here.

 

#vintage #tobaccocards #cigarettecards #traincards #spinethouse #railwaycentenary

 

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Festus Haggen Quotes

Festus Haggen was a whimsical character on the Gunsmoke TV series that aired between 1955 and 1975. Festus was beloved and yet was ornery, cantankerous, stubborn, and mischievous. Though he was illiterate, he often quoted the Bible, spouted his own kind of wisdom, and sometimes misquoted classic orators. Festus appeared ignorant, but a closer look at his sayings reveals a considerable native intelligence.

Festus was so loved by his Gunsmoke audience that his sayings live on 50 years later.

Here are a few favorite Festus Haggen quotes.

On Amazon or Teepublic On Amazon or Teepublic
On Amazon or Teepublic On Amazon or Teepublic

#teepublic #festushaggen #amazon

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Actor John T. Raymond Plays Mark Twain’s Colonel Sellers Character

Colonel Sellers is a character who first made an appearance in Mark Twain’s novel, The Guilded Age, published in 1873. The Guilded Age is the only novel that was a written collaboration between Mark Twain and Charles Dudley Warner. The novel criticizes a period of gross materialism and blatant political corruption in U.S. history during the 1870s.

The Guilded Age gave rise to a play called Colonel Sellers who was portrayed by the actor John T. Raymond. This card was a picture taken of the actor during a performance in Dubuque, Indiana, in June of 1879.  The gilt card is in fine condition.John Raymond as Sellers

There are numerous other cards depicting John T. Raymond in our collection including Between the Acts and Bravo Cigarettes. This is one of a set of over 500 cards issued between 1880 and 1892.

John T Raymond trade card

#marktwain #twainephemera #colonelsellers #johntraymond #tobaccocards #vintagecards #americana

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Christmas Throw Pillows – Unique Holiday Decor

Get in the Christmas spirit with holiday-themed throw pillows that are unique and colorful.

Patterned Christmas Trees: https://amzn.to/3XmLMen

I Believe in Christmas Cookies: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG9BF8P1

If You’ll Be Naughty I’ll Be Nice: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BHRSFML7

Christmas Poinsettia: https://amzn.to/3i2CWCE

Happy Holly Days Peas on Earth: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BLCX613W

Christmas Tree of Books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BG41HY7C

#Christmas #holidaydecor #throwpillows #christmascookies #poinsettia

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Vintage Halloween Post Card Images

Deltiology is the hobby of collecting post cards, ephemera and postal history. I just love the look of vintage post cards. The artwork is so colorful and unique.

Vintage Halloween post cards have even more flair. They can be childlike with cute little veggie people and chubby toddlers. Or they can be more mystical and even macabre.

Here is a collection of products that pay tribute to the artistic appeal of Halloween vintage post cards.

View the complete Regarding Books Halloween store on Teepublic: Halloween Storefront

#vintage #vintagepostcards #halloween #veggiepeople #halloweenshirts #amazon #teepublic

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Why Should You Overcome Being One of the Unread

Why should we strive to overcome the horror of being one of the “unread”? There are innumerable benefits to reading including:

  • improving your mental acuity
  • increasing your vocabulary and comprehension
  • enables a rested mind for better sleep
  • reduces stress
  • improves focus and concentration
  • lowers blood pressure and heart rate
  • fights depression symptoms
  • learning to empathize with other people
  • prevents cognitive decline as you age
  • provides topics for discussion with friends and family

Carry a tote filled with books to separate yourself from being one of the unread!

The Unread Tee

The Unread Book Tote

#booklovers #ilovetoread #bookworms #readingisfun