Vintage December Birthday Angel Figurine, c. 1950's to 1960's

This sweet little birthday angel would have been a perfect birthday gift for a girl in the 1950's or 1960's.  She is about 5.5" high and delicately made, with JAPAN stamped on her base.  She is carrying a present that is decorated with a flower.  I believe she may be Napco, based on style, but she might be Lefton.  Any confirmation would be greatly appreciated!   I love Napco pieces and have several in my own small collection.  If I was a December birthday girl, this angel would certainly be staying here!  Since I'm not, I'm sharing her on eBay:  December Birthday Angel Figurine.

Vintage Children's Book Illustrator Margaret Ely Webb

One of my favorite things about selling vintage children's books and ephemera online is the opportunity to learn about these vintage treasures daily.  I just listed a 1918 Aldine Reader, Book Two.  The illustrator is Margaret Ely Webb.  I researched her work and life, and found that she was born in Urbana, Illinois in 1877.  She studied art in New York with both Cooper Union and the Art Students' League.  In addition to her beautiful children's book illustrations, she also wrote several art textbooks.  She settled in Santa Barbara, California, where she lived until she died in 1965.  I also found a truly beautiful example of her illustration on Flickr:  Little Red Riding Hood.  I love the detail in her art, and the splashes of red color with her crisp pen and ink illustrations.  Lovely!

An Unusual Pop-Up Book - Pop-Up Sound Alikes, a Book About Homonyms

I listed the most unusual pop-up book this week and wanted to share it with you.  It's called Pop-Up Sound Alike, and it is a pop-up book about homonyms!  Very unusual and cleverly written.   I've sold these Random House pop-up books several times and they do very well.   I love the 1960's vintage pictures from this book, too.

Christmas in June -- Vintage Holiday Postcards 1909 - 1940's

These beautiful vintage postcards are a glimpse of Christmas past.   The card below is linen, and unused.  I would date it as 1930's to 1940's.  It's by C.T. & Co., and it depicts Santa Claus waving as he stands on top of the world globe.  Beautiful and unusual imagery! 

This card is embossed and from 1909.  It has a tan shadow at two edges, but I love the simple design of this card -- pastel colors and thick paper with embossed design.

This card is my personal favorite.  It's a 1930's to 1940's vintage linen card -- check out the Art Deco lettering -- showing a cute little elf family playing on an old fashioned, decorated tree.  It's another C.T. & Co. card.

Vintage Children's Book Illustrator Jessie Gillespie

I just listed a lovely and hard to find vintage health reader called Just Ten Minutes: A Health Story.  This 1926 school book has gorgeous silhouette style illustrations by Jessie Gillespie.  I have seen Jessie Gillespie's illustrations in The Birds' Christmas Carol (Kate Douglas Wiggin).  I looked for more information, and found that she was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1888 and lived until 1926.  I am still looking for more biographical information on this illustrator, so please add a comment if you have more information.  Thanks!