Hidden Book Treasure No 16: Happy Birthday

This is the first time a 'fit for purpose' bookmark has made it's way into the Serge & Tweed 'Hidden Book Treasure' category. Whilst it's not terribly unusual to discover a bookmark hidden within the pages of an old book, you will no doubt be familiar with those place-stamped leather tongues wedged and testing the tenacity of a book's binding, however, the context and decoration of this book mark was worthy of sharing.
It was found nestled in a large collection of old childrens books once belonging to a young girl named Marion.The books were mostly from the early 1930's and had been very well cared for; paper covers intact & almost as bright as the day they were bought. The condition of the book mark reflects this care. The book it fell from was an almost perfect, early edition of, 'The Fairy Caravan' by Beatrix Potter. Just one of a whole box full of chilldren's literature delights, carefully chosen for a fledgling library.
It may come as no surprise to discover that each book within the collection was inscribed with love & best wishes from Mother & Dad.  





Comments

Anonymous said…
What a lovely find! And I remember seeing embroidery just like those flowers. The stitch used for the petals was called Lazy Daisy.
James Russell said…
Lovely - I'd be fascinated to know what children's books were included in a fledgling library from the early 30s!
Murgatroyd said…
Hello mefinx & welcome. Love a bit of Lazy Daisy stitch!

James - I should have kept a list of the other titles before the collection was split up. However, it did include a rather nice selection of colour plated, A5 sized volumes of Shakespeare for children. There were several boxes full which weren't your usual run of the mill children's books. I suspect the choices had been made by widely read book lovers.
James Russell said…
Thanks Murgatroyd - sounds like quite a find...
nilly said…
What a lucky girl to have a book collection in the 1930s. My mother's books were all from her mother's little hoard - and now they are mine.
Murgatroyd said…
What a lovely piece of family history to have Nilly. Is there a next generation to pass them onto again?