Cupid's Book of Good Counsel (1929)

[nebet-het.livejournal.com]

I picked up this curious "book of good counsel" at a local used bookstore. I love old ephemera and this is really a charming book of recipes and advice peppered with ads for local establishments from the time. Apparently these were published in various cities on the West coast with the ads tailored for each community. These were given by county clerks to newly-married couples with their marriage license. I found a few other examples on Amazon and Google from other years and the recipes and ads changed each year.

Here's a great example of the old color ads in my copy:

Comments

[chamisa.livejournal.com]

Nifty! I love old ephemera like this too, particularly from this era. :-)

[nebet-het.livejournal.com]

Sadly, the used bookstore closed shortly after I picked this up. I love used bookstores and the rise of internet based operations makes me kind of sad when I see brick & mortar shops close their doors. You just don't get the same thrill of perusing stacks of old ephemera on a website!

[bradygirl_12]

I know, it's sad that bookstores are disappearing. I read enough on the computer, I don't need to read an e-book, too. I like a real book in my hand and browsing bookstores, though I suppose that will go the way of actual handwriting. :(

[realpestilence.livejournal.com]

I've got some e-books, but I don't really like them as much. It's ok to read on-line for fanfiction, because you get the interaction like this, and it's more personal; but for me, reading will always mean an actual book in my hand.

[bradygirl_12]

Definitely agree! My eyes are sensitive to light and reading a computer screen all day can wear them out. A real book is far better for my eyes.

Aesthetically, I prefer books. There's nothing like holding an actual book in your hands and turning the pages. It's why I still write in notebooks, too. I like the old-fashioned feel of it. Also, it gives me freedom to write anywhere instead of being tied to a computer.

[realpestilence.livejournal.com]

Several of my favorite used bookstores have closed in the last few years. I used to browse through them for hours, and find all kinds of goodies. Nothing like a pre-loved book for comfort reading.

[meezergal.livejournal.com]

I agree with you completely. I love old books: reading them and wondering who owned them before I did. Sometimes they have little notes in the margins, sometimes funny old bookmarks and other things fall out. I've found old Valentines, pictures, pressed flowers, and once, fifteen dollars, in old books!

[mejeep.livejournal.com]

I too love used bookshops. I built up quite an eclectic library thanks to used and bargain books and browsing for things I didn't even know I'd enjoy. That's where online bookshops fail: the recommender software can attempt to match previous interests but can't understand what I'd consider novel, amusing or a great gift for someone.

There's no more "used bookshop row" in NYC. They're all gone. Even Strand closed their downtown location, leaving the 12th St location. Colosseum books is gone, the last of the great independent booksellers. Even the tiny narrow bookseller on Nassau St is gone.

There used to be transient booksellers who would rent a store for a month or 2 and move on. Perhaps you found one of those?

[franklanguage.livejournal.com]

Coliseum Books closed? I didn't know.

This is why it's important to patronize St. Mark's Books (http://www.stmarksbookshop.com/) while you still can. My roommate actually handed down his old Kindle to me after he upgraded, and while I loved taking it on the bus and being able to carry 12 books or more with me, I gave it back to him and began reading printed books again. I kind of hate Amazon in a big way, and don't want to support them at all.

I bought a recent one (http://www.avclub.com/articles/lester-bangs-john-morthland-editor-mainlines-blood,5493/) I finished from the booksellers down by NYU, on Washington Square. The current book I'm reading from came from Unoppressive Non-Imperialist Bargain Books (http://unoppressivebooks.blogspot.com/) on Carmine street.

Alabaster Bookshop (http://nymag.com/listings/stores/alabaster-bookshop/) is the sole survivor of Bookstore Row.

[franklanguage.livejournal.com]

But back to the Clorox…I half expected them to say, "Makes a great douche!"

What exactly was Takara powder?

[nebet-het.livejournal.com]

I had not heard of it but it looks to be a feminine hygiene product. There is another ad that's mostly text which shows suppository form of the same powder. I didn't scan that one yet.