Originally designed as a protective insert for pocket watch cases (to keep the back of the watch from getting scratched inside of the case), watchpapers eventually became an advertising medium for watchmakers in the mid to late 1800s. Most of the examples above come from this period. Many more examples here.
Via BibliOdyssey.
Check out this nice Flickr set of vintage cassette tape inserts. As you can imagine, lots of retro design goodness from the 1970s and '80s.
Via Grain Edit.
Take a minute to look through 100 Cereal Box Covers. So many wonderful, sugary, cavity-creating brands. Sir Grapefellow? Classic.
Via Drawn.
Check out this comprehensive collection of Hershey's candy bar wrappers through the years. The classic chocolate bar, which will no doubt find its way into a few Christmas stockings next week, was introduced in 1900.
Via Quipsologies.
From the wonderful CHRISTMASVILLE Flickr set created by Neato Coolville. Definitely worth a look to get into the vintage holiday ephemera spirit.
In Soviet Russia, the state was the only vendor allowed to manufacture playing cards. Of the ten or so types of cards produced, one was devoted to the Mayan culture. Go figure. See more of the deck here.
Via Martin Klasch.
Take a few minutes to look through Vulgar Picture, an exhaustive, high resolution collection of album covers and sleeve art from the entire discography of The Smiths.
Via We Heart Stuff.
Check out this wonderful collection of vintage German Halloween decorations. Look at that intricately detailed die-cut work. (And, wow, be prepared for some culturally offensive imagery.) Speaking of ephemera, take a minute to read Marty Weil's interview with me on his ephemera blog. If you like old paper, his blog is defintely worth a read.
In 1798, Napoleon assigned a group of artists to accompany him on his campaign against Egypt. Their job was to illustrate the art treasures of rare architectural treasures, paintings, carpets, and illustrated texts. After Napoleon failed in Egypt, the artists dispersed throughout Arab lands. It took French art historian Prisse d'Avennes more than twenty years to find those artists and compile their work. He later published the plates in 1869. Gorgeous. View more here.
Via BibliOdyssey.
Front cover, inside front cover, inside back cover, and back cover for a 1915 children's storybook featuring Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum.
Via BibliOdyssey.
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