Decorating Book Happiness

Some people speculate that books will be replaced by e-books over time.  That may be the case for some people, and some types of books.  For me, though, there will always be a place in a book collector's heart for the beautiful coffee-table books that are being printed in the USA, Japan, Italy and other places around the world.  My experience with a these wonderful books can't be reproduced by looking at images on a screen.  

So my great purchase at a recent estate sale of ALL of the books above fills my heart with great joy.  Because 
a) I love books, and 
b) I love bargains.  

(A great bargain can give me quite a rush, can anyone relate?)    

I stopped at a 3 day estate sale toward the end of the 1st day and found these and many other books for sale.  (Mostly decorating books - sigh...)  I don't need more books, so I leisurely went through nearly all of the books, and picked out my 10 favorites. I bought 10 books for under $5 each.  The seller encouraged me to come back the next day for the 1/2 price sale.  Well, it may be obvious that I did.  I bought more then 30 books the next day.    

I do spend and enjoy hours on Pinterest, but the experience of a beautiful book is altogether different.  Listening to the radio is wonderful, but an awesome concert is also a great experience.  I will enjoy leisurely going through a book or two a week for many months to come.

Click on the image to see them larger. 


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I am linking up to these memes:

Coastal Charm: Nifty Thrifty Tues 176  (Entry 235) 
* Stroll Life: Inspire Me Tues 178 (Entry 205)
Uncommon Slice: Tues Treasures 148  (Entry 195) 
Cedarhill Ranch: The Sun Scoop 70 (Entry 205)
Cozy House: Tweak it Tue 52 (Entry 102)
Lavender Garden: Cottage Style (Entry 20) b
Savvy Style: Wow Us Wed 132 (Entry 170) h *
Trendy Tree: Creative Share Wed (Entry 44)

Handy: Wicked Awesome Wed 124 (Entry 5)  
Family Home: Wow us Wed 21 (Entry 73)
Snap: Show and Tell (Entry 113) 

Katherine: Thurs Favorite Things 102 (Entry 46)
Ivy and Elephants: Whats it Wed 88 (Entry 89) 
Someday Crafts: Whatever Goes Wed 184 (Entry 244)
Jan Olson: Share your Cup of Tea Thur 70 (Entry 46)
From my Porch: Treasure Hunt Thur 120 (Entry 62) 
Girlish Whims: Your Whims Wed 125 (Entry 199)
No Minimalist Here: Open House (Entry 67) 

Brambleberry Cottage: Time Travel Thur 162 (Entry 43)
Shabby Creek: Transformation Thur 218, (Entry 86) *

Charm of Home: Home Sweet Home Thur (Entry)
A Delight: Home and Garden Thur 43 (Entry 40)
House of Hepworths: Hooking Up 162 (Entry 194)
Glimpse inside: Catch a Glimpse 145 (Entry 117) 

Thrifty Grove: Thrifty Things Fri 123 (Entry 50 of 56.)

French Country: Feather Nest Fri (Entry 290 of 295.)
* Common Ground: Vint Inspiration 154 (Entry 63)
* Romantic Home: Show and Tell (Entry 196 of 216.) *
Chic: Flaunt it Friday 168 (Entry 172 of 177.)

Shabby Nest: Frugal Friday (Entry 278)
Tatertots: Weekend Party Palooza (Entry 718) 
Jen Rizzo: Fabulous Friday (Entry 112) 

129916

Picturesque World

Image 1: Picturesque World and Picturesque Europe book volumes

y "Treasure of the Year" from 2009 was purchased at an Antique show.  It was a 2 volume set of books from 1878 titled "Picturesque World".  These books were basically travel picture books, from a time before photography was available.  The pictures in the books are engravings of many famous locations, and each volume has over 400 wood engravings, and about 25 steel engravings.  (Steel engravings are extra special - they have a tissue sheet separating the engraving from the other pages in the book.)

Image 2: Picturesque World book engraved illustrations

I have fallen in love with the crispness and beauty of these engravings.  Each engraving is a work of art, with beautiful composition, from a time when the modes of transportation were walking, animals, and animal powered vehicles.  There was no electricity, and therefore no electric lines, and the "picturesque" and quaintly dressed people in the pictures (in theory) reflect the actual way it was.  Since there are over 800 pictures in the two volumes, some of these landmark locations are no longer in existence, or their current appearance is different then the volumes pictured.

Image 3: Picturesque World volume

There is so much to love about these books!  The ornamental letters that start some chapters.  The intricately tooled leather covers.  The feel a book that is over 120 years old. Since I got the 2 volume set, I purchased a 3 volume set "Picturesque Europe" on-line, and I have added a couple more old books with engravings to my "collection".

Image 4: Picturesque Europe book leather tooled cover

Check out the leather tooling on the cover. I could go on about these books, but not today.

Image 5: Picturesque World book engraved illustration

 

So, how is this post thrifty?  Well, with 4 children ages 10-16, I won't be traveling internationally soon, so I go on-line and look up the places in the books with google images, and it's my thrifty way to travel.  : )




Click on the images to see them larger.




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See more great finds and treasure! Visit 
Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingies Thursday (I was entry 25 of 50.)
Diane for 2nd Time Around, (I was entry 27 of 28)
Southern Hospitality for Today's Thrifty Treasures (Entry 105 of 105.)
Tales from Bloggeritaville for Thrifty Thursday (Entry 8 of 67)
Debbie for Garage Salen Party (I was entry 11 of 31.)
Visit Romantic Home for Show and Tell (I was entry 22 of 144+) 
Claudia at Fridays Finding Beauty. (I was entry 3 of 10+)
A Few of My Favorite Things for Favorite Things Friday. (I was entry 11 of 113+)
Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays (I was entry 81)