Ephemera Society of America Hosts 25th Conference, Show and Auction

GREENWICH, CONN.

:Somewhat resembling a fantastic voyage through different lands, cultures and times, Ephemera 25 treated attendees to a small slice of fantasy and history as recorded on paper throughout the ages. The show, hosted by and among the activities commemorating the 25th year for The Ephemera Society of America, took place over the three-day run March 18-20.

Under the management of Flamingo Promotions, the show is regarded as "the country's finest paper show, conference and auction" all conveniently rolled into one event. The weekend got off to a good start with a large crowd in attendance for Friday's talks on ephemera, viewing of exhibits and conservation workshops. The show followed on both Saturday and Sunday, and the weekend's events culminated late Sunday afternoon with the closing of a large silent auction featuring hundreds of pieces of ephemera.

The crowd on Saturday morning grew in stature as the show prepared to open to Ephemera Society members at 9 am, with a regular opening to the public an hour later. A line began forming for the society opening more than an hour prior to the scheduled time, and an even longer line began forming soon afterward for the public opening.

The Ephemera Society, in an effort to boost membership and to celebrate its 25 years, allowed anyone to join the society that morning and gain early entrance to the show. Many people were seen taking advantage of the sign-up.

As the show opened, numerous sales were being recorded in a variety of different collecting areas. Sales for children's books were noted, as were artworks on paper, trade cards, posters and historical documents. The show looked grand and a note of enthusiasm carried through the show, one that these determined collectors routinely produce.

"Wanted" posters for the likes infamous outlaws such as Bonnie and Clyde and John Dillinger, travel posters for cruises to exotic places both around the world and up the Mississippi, news reports of the Titanic's fate, photographs, books, prints and even a host of Victorian valentines were among the available.

The "wanted" posters were attracting quite a bit of attention in the booth of The Caren Archive with the stark images of Bonnie Parker and a gun-toting Clyde Barrow featured. The poster, issued by the US Department of Justice, listed their offenses as motor vehicle theft and cautioned officers that they had killed in the past during attempted arrests. It also listed Bonnie as having at least two bullet wounds as distinguishing features, including one in the foot and another in the knee. Clyde was listed as having a bullet wound that passed through both legs above the knee and his other distinguishing mark was a woman's bust tattooed on his arm.

Other items of interest displayed by Eric Caren included an early Civil War photo of General McClelland with his staff, and a pamphlet dated 1675 that dealt with the proper techniques for watch making. Mr Caren also had one of his newly printed books available, a joint effort with The Smithsonian titled The Civil War, which features his related ephemera collection.

Another booth to feature an extremely interesting Civil War item was that of Gaylordsville, Conn., dealers Mickey Beck and Dennis Willis. Offered was an assortment of Mathew Brady daguerreotypes of Civil War soldiers. Highlighting the group, however, was an extremely rare image of General Robert E. Lee. The image was captured by Brady five days after Lee's loss at the Battle of Appomattox. According to the dealer, "Brady, determined to get a photo of national historical importance, went to Lee's home where he was turned away by the house staff. He started to leave and then turned back and said he would not take 'no' for an answer," according to Mr. Willis. "He was allowed to photograph Lee on the back porch of the house and took five images of him on the porch, including this rare seated image."

Jack Freas of Tamerlane Books, Havertown, Penn. offered up a wide variety of materials including an unusual broadside that pitted man and machine against beast. The early piece boasted a race between "Horse Vs Bicycle" on December 30, 1894, in a "challenge match" with the winner claiming $200. Other items in the booth included a book of Italian costume design with watercolored plates and a folio book with hand tinted views titled Newport, Before the Gilded Age.

A nice broadside advertising weathervanes was attracting attention in the booth of Resser Thornen, Manchester, N.H. The rare piece had a variety of vanes illustrated that were manufactured by Harris.

Jane Kulp of Jean's Books, Hatfield, Penn., offered a nice selection of children's books including an extremely desirable printing of When Christmas Comes Around that was illustrated by Jessie Willcox Smith. The dealer called the edition "one of the rarest and most sought after" books that Smith illustrated. Other items of interest in the booth included a Leo Polti illustration of a Mexican child, a case filled with die-cut Christmas cards and a wonderful 1929 edition of The Adventures of Pinocchio by Colodi with a colorful embossed cover.

Dennis Holzman offered a selection of signed letters and documents including a Theodore Roosevelt piece on White House stationary and a signed letter from Albert Einstein.

Liverpool, N.Y., dealer Bruce Johnson offered a variety of materials in his booth ranging from an early photo grouping of the circa 1911 cars run in the Vanderbilt Cup race, to a painted tin toy pull-train with five cars. The dealer also featured a pack of newsletters from 1951 to 1953 titled Flying Saucer Review. The rare pieces, produced quarterly, were printed at what the dealer termed "the height of the flying saucer craze."

It is not too late to join The Ephemera Society of America and support the "Be A Star" campaign that celebrates its 25th anniversary. The Star Fund was created as a fundraising arm of the society and it will fund special exhibitions and to create new programs that will benefit the membership. Contact The Ephemera Society of America at PO Box 95, Cazenovia NY 13035. For further information on the show, contact promoters John and Tina Bruno, PO Box 57, Northport LI, NY 11768, or call 631-261-4590.