It's Tink!

We're headed to a masquerade ball over at THOIA today for our big "Halfway to Halloween" celebration. And for the many of you out there who are either Ben Cooper fans, Disney / Peter Pan fans, or more specifically, just totally into Tinkerbell and / or fairies, --I have the perfect costume for you too! It's Tink herself, in a rare, early linen mask variation (the rest of the costume is actually missing), and I hesitate to say that this is even the original, or correct, Tinkerbell box as well. I mean, maybe it is, but I'm not finding any info about it online otherwise. And okay, some of you will undoubtably call it "creepy", which will undoubtably make me *sigh* sleepy. I've also included a holiday themed Cracker Jacks ad, --even though I never could stand the taste of 'em! Have a great Walpurgisnacht, everyone-- we'll see you in May for lots more!

Popeye Tasty Candy Cigarettes

Found this neat (but empty) box of vintage Popeye Candy Cigarettes a few weeks back. Made in England by Primrose Confectionary Co. LTD Slough too, and I have to say how disappointing it is to not see the word "spinach" on the list of ingredients! Oh well, blow me down...

Bobby Shaftoe & Little Miss Muffet

Those of you that collect vintage 50's - 60's squeak toys know that Alan Jay's name inscribed anywhere on it = extra cute, unusual / unique, and highly collectable. Bobby Shaftoe has been in my collection for a few years now, and with his adorable, skull 'n crossboned, doo-ragged head, this puny pirate peers through his spyglass, eyeing something scary on the horizon! Yes, it's his best gal, Little Miss Muffet, and she's about to sit on a big 'ol spider! I mentioned "unusual" before, and both squeakers certainly apply-- from Bobby's funny squatted pose at the bow of his lil blue boat, to the white coloring of the spider instead of black or brown, (possibly so it's not to real looking and sending mom off screaming into the kitchen for the can of Raid every time she sees it!) Fun toys, they definitely don't make 'em like this anymore. For more spidery fun, CLICK HERE!

Pyro(graphy)Mania

Lovely Nouveau nymph example of an antique Flemish Art Co. pyrography box that I picked up yesterday. CLICK HERE to learn more about this process of do-it-yourself-art wood working.

Little Play Nurse

After you gorge yourself on all of that delicious Easter basket candy today you'll likely need a visit from the 60's Transogram Little Play Nurse. You can rest assured that she'll fix you up just fine with not a thing to worry about because --well, she brought along her diploma for one-- but she also has it in print that all of the plastic parts from her neato nurse kit are safe and sanitary for children of all ages. (We will be skipping the temperature taking part though as she's clearly forgotten her thermometer!) I've also included the best vintage Easter postcard (postmarked 1919 Germany on the back) that I've ever added to my collection, a card that was possibly the visual inspiration (yeah right) for one of the other most iconic old time religiony figures in cinematic history, the very son of Satan himself-- Damien Thorn! Next, celebrate Easter properly by heading over to THOIA HERE for something else to make your stomach ache!

The Smallest Menagerie in the World

From Germany-- it's the Smallest Menagerie in the World! This is a funny little celluloid, or plastic, box from the 1920's / 30's that opens up to reveal your rotten reservation behind bars with the other animals of ill-repute. Now, I never get political on either of my blogs, but I can definitely give a few suggestions via our current corrupt administration that would look satisfyingly smashing in that ASS cage (or for that matter, in any of the other monkey and piggy cages as well.) And if anyone has a problem with that, there's plenty of fucking room for you in there with them too.

Cleopatre & Salambo

Some of you already know how much I love Nouveau era busts, and here's another gorgeous pair I just added to my collection. Cleopatre and Salambo, created in 12" patinated spelter by Franz Iffland sometime between 1880 and 1910. With their beautifully stoic faces and highly detailed, swirling hair, both now stare down from my shelf at me with the wisdom of the ages. Other things to look for below are the perfectly blended masks and weaponry attached to the bases, which barely cover their bare breasts. I'm also sure most of you are familiar with the fabulous Queen of Egypt, but have you heard of priestess Salambo, daughter of Hamilcar, and chief moon goddess during the siege of Carthage in 240-237 BCE? She was in fact, a fictional character created in the late 19th century by Gustave Flaubert (author of Madame Bovary), and apparently became so wildly popular that her story spawned a variety of operas and films. I particularly love Henri Adrien Tanoux's 1921 painting of her, (see end of post.)

The Girls of Napa (1973)

Not to be confused with "The Girls of" from the other, more adult oriented, Playbunny type magazine, todays AEET post is here to remind you that "The Girls of" from practically anywhere can be just as alluring and rockin' --even those modeling for an old Napa auto parts catalog via 1973. Along with all of the high performance accessories and automative equipment of the era, we also get a fabulous taste of heavenly hairstyles and total fox fashion! Yep, over 255 pages of service and supplies, plus hot pants and go-go boots which are of course just as much in demand as super wides and squeegees! So scroll through this collection of perfectly posed pretties --those bare legs and belly buttons are sure to give your battery a powerful boost! I included two extra images at the very end because I thought they were great examples of retro illustrated characters on product displays, (and unfortunately, doesn't really seem to be a thing anymore these days.)