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Post by stefdesign on Apr 8, 2016 20:42:23 GMT
Sorry about the dramatic thread title, but I have something kind of neat that happened to me recently. A few weeks ago, I was contacted by an editor at Country Living Magazine. She had seen my collections of vintage schoolbooks and school memorabilia on my collector's blog, and wondered if she could borrow some of my collection for their September Back-to-School issue photo shoot. I was so flattered and pleased! However, as soon as I saw the email, my heart sank, because all of my things are in storage 3000 miles away. (A few months after I posted my final year-long blog entry about my vast collections, my DH and I moved from California to New Jersey for my new job. Everything was either sold, or put into storage). The day before I got this email, we had been in California. Had we gotten it earlier, perhaps we could have made arrangements to get some of the stuff out of storage. But I just sent her back a nice 'thank you for considering me, but my stuff is unavailable'. (crying) I was pretty sad, because I do have some awesome vintage school items (you can see some of my collections here, here, and here) and would have LOVED to have my things featured in Country Living. But, alas, the timing was just bad. After I sent off my email, I remembered that I do have a few vintage school books that I've picked up in the 3 years we've been in NJ. (You can't keep a collector down), so I fired off another email, and offered to send her a few books. She was interested! She promptly arranged for a Fedex pickup, and I sent her 10 or so books. So, a week or two later, she contacted me again, to arrange for the return of my books. She then said they had a bunch of old school books that they picked up for the photo shoot, and they would just hang around their offices... would I be interested in having them? Would I? I was so excited! Yesterday they arrived. I received 2 boxes, a couple dozen vintage school books: Dick and Jane readers, Think-and-Do books, and some things I had never seen before! If you like old school readers from the 40s, 50s, and 60s, you would love these. I'll post a few photos to show you some of my haul. So, what started out as a disappointment, turned into a bonus!
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Post by stefdesign on Apr 8, 2016 20:55:44 GMT
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valleyview
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,816
Jun 27, 2014 18:41:26 GMT
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Post by valleyview on Apr 8, 2016 20:57:19 GMT
Great story! I'm glad that it worked out for you!
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jayfab
Drama Llama
procastinating
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Jun 26, 2014 21:55:15 GMT
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Post by jayfab on Apr 8, 2016 20:59:27 GMT
That is so cool.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Apr 8, 2016 21:10:49 GMT
I just love it when things work out like that!
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,646
Location: Kansas City -ish
Jun 27, 2014 2:38:58 GMT
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Post by Anita on Apr 8, 2016 21:13:21 GMT
What a great story! Love your collection, too.
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Post by jemali on Apr 8, 2016 21:14:59 GMT
What a great story
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Post by librarylady on Apr 8, 2016 21:17:21 GMT
Lucky You!!
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eastcoastpea
Prolific Pea
Posts: 9,252
Jun 27, 2014 13:05:28 GMT
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Post by eastcoastpea on Apr 8, 2016 21:54:13 GMT
That's awesome.
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Sue
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,234
Location: SE of Portland, Oregon
Jun 26, 2014 18:42:33 GMT
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Post by Sue on Apr 8, 2016 21:54:32 GMT
Wow, what a bonus!
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Post by ntsf on Apr 8, 2016 22:06:57 GMT
I love the dick and jane..I can remember being 4..stealing the book from my brother and reading it myself!!! I read before kindergarten and just loved books...still do. I have a limited selection of school books from about 1900. fun to look at. I have a 4-5 book set of poetry bookds. poetry for the 7th year, etc. I think they are from my great aunt who taught english.
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Post by refugeepea on Apr 8, 2016 22:11:23 GMT
That is SO awesome! I love vintage school books. My grandma taught school from the 1930's-the late 1960's or 70's.
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Post by leannec on Apr 8, 2016 22:29:25 GMT
My retired teacher MIL would absolutely love those Enjoy them
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Post by hop2 on Apr 8, 2016 22:55:37 GMT
Um I think I had some of those in elementary school. Well at least the Dick and Jane stuff. But my 3rd grade teacher had a ton of 'old' schoolbooks ( I can imagine what they be now if the were old then ha ha ) This is spot See spot run This is Jane.......
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Post by lucyg on Apr 8, 2016 23:00:06 GMT
oh my gosh, do I looooove that story! congrats!
Remind us when this issue hits the stands, okay?
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Post by stefdesign on Apr 8, 2016 23:28:22 GMT
oh my gosh, do I looooove that story! congrats! Remind us when this issue hits the stands, okay? I definitely will! Thanks!
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Post by danor98 on Apr 8, 2016 23:29:23 GMT
Dick and Jane! How exciting! I was going to ask if you had any Alice and Jerry and then BAM! Alice and Jerry! I remember having both books in 1st grade. Alice and Jerry first, I think if my 55 year old brain can recall! I haven't found many people that are familiar with Alice and Jerry! Such lovely memories! Cool on being able to use some of your own stuff and , what a score! Congrats to you!
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Post by GamGam on Apr 9, 2016 0:03:50 GMT
What a nice surprise for you. And the photos brought back memories of childhood with the Dick and Jane books. Thanks for posting.
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kate
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,517
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Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 3:30:05 GMT
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Post by kate on Apr 9, 2016 0:22:36 GMT
Great story!
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Post by birukitty on Apr 9, 2016 0:38:17 GMT
I love this story and I love your collections! Please don't forget to let us know when this issue hits the stands-I can't wait to see the story. I remember learning how to read when I was 5 years old with the Dick and Jane books in 1st grade. I was either 5 or 6. We came to the USA from Germany in 1965 when I was 5 years old and I couldn't speak a word of English. I so clearly remember making the connection with the written word in those books and the day I learned to read. It was so magical and I remember running home to tell my mother, "I learned to read! I learned to read!" although I'm sure I said it in German because she didn't know any English. My father was American. We'd just always spoken German at home since we'd lived in Germany and my Dad'd learned German while in the Army at the Army Language Institute. When the Peas say they were 4 or even 3 when they learn to read, at first I was disappointed in myself that I didn't learn earlier. Now I realize I am an oldest child (had no exposure earlier) and if it wasn't for learning a new language at the same time I probably would have learned much earlier. I adore reading! Dick and Jane books hold a special place in my heart. Although it really frustrated me when it said that Spot says, "Bow wow" because dogs don't say that. Even as a child that bugged me Debbie in MD.
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Peamac
Pearl Clutcher
Refupea # 418
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Jun 26, 2014 0:09:18 GMT
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Post by Peamac on Apr 9, 2016 1:01:00 GMT
<sigh> They're so pretty! I have a bunch of old books, but the one I brag about is the 1930 Nancy Drew- the very first book in the series. There's an inscription in the front - it was given as a Christmas gift to the original owner. Of course my name is written in crayon (but not in my writing. it actually looks like my oldest sister's writing) when I got it.
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PLurker
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Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Apr 9, 2016 1:07:37 GMT
That is awesome. I've seen some of your collection before and always see something (well everything) that catches my eye. This time it's in your globe collection. Love them all but especially the ornament one. of course if I look again tomorrow, it'll probably something else.
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Post by jenjie on Apr 9, 2016 2:23:52 GMT
Very cool!
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Apr 9, 2016 2:34:03 GMT
What an exciting thing to have happen! I read Country Living regularly, so will have to be on the lookout for your books.
I didn't realize that people collected vintage schoolbooks. There is a huge stack of them in my cabinet that belonged to my great Aunt. She taught 1st and 2nd grade from the 1930's through the 1960's. Some of the books are the same as the ones in your blog entries, plus there are quite a few more. I'm thinking of getting rid of some of them. Is eBay the best way to go?
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scrappinwithoutpeas
Pearl Clutcher
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Aug 7, 2014 22:09:44 GMT
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Apr 9, 2016 2:36:40 GMT
I love your story and your collections! I especially love the orange cover Childcraft books - we had a set and I loved it as a child (don't remember the exact edition but it was similar to the one on your blog). Do you ever run across any of the Ginn Basic Readers? I had those (Mark and Janet) instead of the Dick and Jane series.
ETA: I may be mixing up several different sets of readers: the Ginn Basic Readers (which were not Mark & Janet as it turns out) and a Houghton-Mifflin set that had a Jack and Janet. I think I had both at various times. However the ones I remember the most are the Harper & Row set, which were the ones with Mark & Janet. Anyway, I love browsing through your blog at all the nostalgia. Especially the books!
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Post by stefdesign on Apr 9, 2016 12:16:42 GMT
What an exciting thing to have happen! I read Country Living regularly, so will have to be on the lookout for your books. I didn't realize that people collected vintage schoolbooks. There is a huge stack of them in my cabinet that belonged to my great Aunt. She taught 1st and 2nd grade from the 1930's through the 1960's. Some of the books are the same as the ones in your blog entries, plus there are quite a few more. I'm thinking of getting rid of some of them. Is eBay the best way to go? eBay is definitely a good way to sell vintage readers. When I first started collecting them, I bought quite a few that way. Etsy is also great. I actually prefer Etsy, but I think eBay has more buyers.
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anniebygaslight
Drama Llama
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Posts: 7,394
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Jun 28, 2014 14:08:19 GMT
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Post by anniebygaslight on Apr 9, 2016 12:21:32 GMT
How lovely!
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Post by peano on Apr 9, 2016 13:52:07 GMT
That's so cool! I can't wait to get my September issue.
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Post by sbartist on Apr 9, 2016 14:01:27 GMT
What an amazing collection you have. I remember reading Dick and Jane in second grade. What a wonderful feel good story.
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Post by sbartist on Apr 9, 2016 14:34:48 GMT
Stef - your blog is all kinds of fun to peruse. I liked your story about the blue lunchbox. I have a couple of Pyrex bowls a red one and a green one similar to your favorite little yellow bowl.
Your own pin collection, and your business that your husband was a big part of.
So many treasures that bring back memories.
The baby name book, I know your husband is a Bruce, so are my dad and brother. My brother was called Brucie growing up, and then it was Bruce I (dad) and Bruce II (brother), as they have different middle names.
The vintage bonnet hairdryer - I have a picture of me with that on my head, LOL.
Thanks for sharing your blog with us.
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