I'm the Official Card & Stationery Sorter at the Thrift Store––because I like to do it and because no one had been staying on top of it for a while.
Most of the donated paper goods originated with charities that reward donors with sets of cards. People donate good new cards too, and then there are the best:
the random vintage cards, often in boxes leftover, I imagine, from the lives of women like my late Auntie Mary whose dedication to sending birthday cards to everyone, every year, was mentioned in her obituary.
I have to pay full price (25 cents/card), but I get first pick of the goods. I got these three unused cards yesterday. They're a little demented, I think--those acid colors, and they're textured too: the wavy lines you see are raised.
Most of the donated paper goods originated with charities that reward donors with sets of cards. People donate good new cards too, and then there are the best:
the random vintage cards, often in boxes leftover, I imagine, from the lives of women like my late Auntie Mary whose dedication to sending birthday cards to everyone, every year, was mentioned in her obituary.
I have to pay full price (25 cents/card), but I get first pick of the goods. I got these three unused cards yesterday. They're a little demented, I think--those acid colors, and they're textured too: the wavy lines you see are raised.
What do you think, are they from the 1970s?
I can't find any information about the company that printed them, A Select Card:
Dunno, but they look a lot like the ones Granny sent, except all her's were religious. Another lady who send a card to every child/grandchild/greatgrandchild/ & spouse-of, in the family, with a rolodex to keep track.
ReplyDeleteI admire the people––usually women–– who did that kind of work.
ReplyDeleteI read that it's still 80% women who buy greeting cards.
I think they might be an experimental line from Gibson. I'm thinking late 60s to early- or mid-70s.
ReplyDeleteThere was an artist of that time period who drew little girls in prairie-style dresses...I'll see if I can find her and get back to you.
These cards trigger memories from my youth-ish days.
I sold greeting cards for Olympia (or Olympic) Cards when in 5th or 6th grade. These remind me of the ones in the all-occasion assortment.
ReplyDeleteI loved the round, red transistor radio I earned for selling those cards. :)
http://www.joanwalshanglund.com/about.htm
ReplyDeleteJoan Walsh Anglund is the artist whose works your cards (a couple of them) remind of from mid-1960s to mid-1980s. Haven't noticed her stuff lately. I received her book titled "A Friend is Someone Who Likes You." Tossed it out several years ago when moving.
I don't think she drew any of the art on your cards.
CROW: I had forgotten JWA, though I loved her when I was a kid. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteDEANNA: You revivie another half-forgotten memory! I remember selling some wrapping paper one year... I was terrible at sales and envious of the girls who did win cool prizes, like your radio!
I think I only got enough sales for a prize because sweet little old ladies from our church and neighborhood bought from me.
ReplyDelete