Friday, January 4, 2013

Free Download! Vintage Fairy Book Cards

I'm so in love with vintage books ... especially children's books from the 199-1950s era.  It was called the 'Golden Age' of illustration because never before were so many artists creating such incredible illustrations ... many of them women too. So, for the rest of this week, I'm going to be bringing you some fantastic images from these very old artists as printables that you can use to add inspiration to your world.

The first is a set of ATC sized cards on a printable sheet. I can't remember the name of this book, but this is the same artist that created the Raggedy Anne series!  These would make adorable cards don't you think? or even a banner to hang in a child's room.

ENJOY! 
Click on the image below to get to the larger image, then right click, download to your computer. 
©2013 Jodie Lee Designs. Personal use and small business use for a small run of up to 50 handmade goods.

13 comments:

  1. Thank you for all the beautiful downloads you provide!

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  2. Thank you so much for these lovely images:)

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  3. Hi Jodie

    Love the old illustrations - so remind me of books my Grandma had at her house for when we went to visit. Really nostalgic.

    I do have a confession though; I'm not a fan of photographs of people from the victorian times - or any old photo, because a) they're all dead (and that's all I can think about), and b) you just never know if they would have given permission for the pics to be used - or whether they were taking them for mass distribution - that's just a hang up I have about these old pictures, because they are someones past (I know - weird huh?!), but it wouldn't do for us all to like the same things (please forgive me)!lol

    Paula x x x

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  4. Hi Paula,
    I do know what you mean :) ...
    I collect Real Photo Poscards of children from the Victorian Era, and I have thought the same myself ... a bit creepy. But my love for portrait photography, especially of children, always wins over in the end. I am just captivated by the old photographic methods and some of the photographers of the time were just amazing.

    Have you heard of the Public Domain? Well, it's a wonderful thing. The laws are different for different parts of the world, but here in the USA anything prior to 1923 is in the public domain. That means the copyright has expired on it and it can be repurposed by new generations to create art. I love this, because down through history, artists have always been inspired by what has gone before them, and created new styles inspired by older ones. That's the beauty of the public domain. Even photographs fall into this arena. Sometimes personal photos do not if they have been handed down from generation to generation. But Margaret Julia Cameron was a well known photographer at the time, so her works were considered works of art, not just personal portraits. They are all in the public domain now. So too are Van Gogh's works and many other artists. That's why you may see some of his works on cards, or posters etc. Once you create or arrange something that you've used from the public domain, that work then becomes your own design and is copyrighted by you.

    That's how I'm able to share all these wonderful vintage goodies.

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    1. Hi Jodie - I do completely get it - and know that some of the children would have sat for portrait artists... I also appreciate that they have their place too - it's just that the thoughts go through my mind as soon as I see the images. I think it was because I saw a set of images where little girls had their clothing off the shoulder, and had taken their tops off their shoulders altogether, probably to make them look older than what they were - it was those picture that put me off..I know they're not all like that... Unfortunately, it's completely just one of my hangups I'm afraid... I love to see what some artists do with them and they certainly have their place... The images I do like are those of grand looking ladies dressed in full crinolines or bussels, with their hats and parasols etc - and stood in front of a full backdrop meaning they clearly knew what they were doing... I think I am warming to them more than when I first started to craft and see them being used... so I'm not as bad as I was - I just didn't like seeing the pics of the young children dressed inappropriately for their age - I can't remember where I saw them (although it would have been a download blog). I hope you don't think I was knocking the images you have provided - I wouldn't do that.

      I have of course heard about the public domain - which I think is a wonderful thing - i'm pretty sure that it exists in the UK too in whatever guise- you might know more about that than me though.

      Please keep bringing us your lovely vintage stuff - please also carry on inspiring me to think differently about vintage photography and such imagery.

      Paula x x x

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    2. Hi again Paula! :)

      Thank you for the discussion! Yes, the laws for the public domain are different in the UK and Australia. They are 70 years after the death of the artist, different to here in the USA.

      Yes, I share your love of vintage photography there!

      I have probably a couple of hundred photos of vintage children postcards. I try to create the same look with some of my children's portraits. If you are friends with me on Facebook you can see some of the portraits I've done in the antique style.

      Have a lovely day!





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  6. I feel like I won the lottery with all of your freebies! I can't wait for your new Prima lines to hit the market. If you will have it in your Etsy that would be even better. :) Thanks for sharing with us.
    Leslie

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    1. Hi Leslie!! My new products will be hitting my Etsy store very soon! Will keep you posted on my blog and Facebook!

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  7. I love this fairy tales freebies. They are so gorgeous. Thanks a lot!.
    Have a wonderful 2013!!

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  8. I love these sweet images. Thank you for sharing.

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  9. I love the bright colors in these. Thank you Jodie. :)

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  10. these story book images are so cute...thank you for sharing!

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Hi friends, thank you for your comments ... I love hearing from you!