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Halloween: Vintage Holiday Graphics
Trick or treat (smell my feet!) A guaranteed trip down memory lane, this book celebrates All Hallows' Eve in American graphic and print media from the early 1900s to the '60s. Featuring witches, ghouls, ghosts, and jack-o-lanterns, the scariest postcards and decorations, the silliest costumes and candid photos are collected here. With an introduction tracing the unexpected history of Halloween and its traditions, Vintage Halloween is a nostalgic tribute to one of America's favorite holidays.
192 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2005
182 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
June 2, 2023
Really fun trip that takes you back to the Halloweens of your childhood! Love the retro vibe of this book - brought back so many good memories of trick or treat that I had forgotten for a long time. Many images from the 60's that I am sure will be a treat for all of you out there who remember when Halloween was a safe and fun holiday.
November 25, 2023
The art and photography are the draw, but the editor could have offered some commentary for each image, accompanied by year of origin.
August 31, 2015
This is a small book packed full of stunning artwork and somewhat creepy photographs. Devils, ghosts, pumpkins, witches, blackcats, costumes, and mask make this a very interesting trip down memory lane.
November 12, 2017
This was a book recommended to me for Halloween but due to my crazy working hours and the rest of my hours devoted to sleep it wasn't one that I was able to get to in October. In the end it was one that made for a quick pass-through since it is a compilation of photographs, ads and postcards that are focused all upon Halloween.
The book does a wonderful job in exploring the concept of the holiday past but it was a bit on the lacking side. Although I am normally picky about captions being used in most compiled picture books this would have been one where it would have been a blessing to see the date and thus being able to compare the themes as well as the costumes with each other.
Otherwise the book was fun and entertaining while at the same time being educational in an indirect way. Some more interesting parts were finding a Flipper costume (this was most definitely surprising) and a hotdog witch riding a broom for the book Weeny Witch, which I cannot find a digital copy to check out.
All in all this would be a great gift for those who like Halloween and all things antique....
The book does a wonderful job in exploring the concept of the holiday past but it was a bit on the lacking side. Although I am normally picky about captions being used in most compiled picture books this would have been one where it would have been a blessing to see the date and thus being able to compare the themes as well as the costumes with each other.
Otherwise the book was fun and entertaining while at the same time being educational in an indirect way. Some more interesting parts were finding a Flipper costume (this was most definitely surprising) and a hotdog witch riding a broom for the book Weeny Witch, which I cannot find a digital copy to check out.
All in all this would be a great gift for those who like Halloween and all things antique....
November 28, 2021
There are three things to be said about this book.
First, it's a nice collection of Halloween images before the internet, including photographs, greeting cards, adverts, illustrations from various magazines and books and other ephemera, all of which seem to be between the 1900's-thru maybe the late 1960's.
Second, there is a short--seemingly obligatory-- page and a half essay that is an inaccurate (though not false) history of Halloween--it adds nothing to the point of this book.
Third, aside from the penultimate page, which lists the dates and type of media for the front cover, the back cover, and endpapers, there is no captioned information for any of the images unless such info is in the image itself. (For instance, there is an illustration from a Ladies Home Journal cover in which the date of 1905 is printed on the illustration of the magazine; and a photograph of 6 kids in pig costumes with "1944" inked on the bottom.)
A little of bit information on some of these images throughout would have made this a much more satisfying collection.
First, it's a nice collection of Halloween images before the internet, including photographs, greeting cards, adverts, illustrations from various magazines and books and other ephemera, all of which seem to be between the 1900's-thru maybe the late 1960's.
Second, there is a short--seemingly obligatory-- page and a half essay that is an inaccurate (though not false) history of Halloween--it adds nothing to the point of this book.
Third, aside from the penultimate page, which lists the dates and type of media for the front cover, the back cover, and endpapers, there is no captioned information for any of the images unless such info is in the image itself. (For instance, there is an illustration from a Ladies Home Journal cover in which the date of 1905 is printed on the illustration of the magazine; and a photograph of 6 kids in pig costumes with "1944" inked on the bottom.)
A little of bit information on some of these images throughout would have made this a much more satisfying collection.
May 1, 2016
A very nice collection of vintage Halloween images and the physical quality of the book is very high as well, which is typical of an ICONS book. I also like how not all the images are from just the greeting cards but other sources such as costumes and wall decorations. There was a very nice variety of images chosen.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews