One of the highlights of spring for me is an antique show and sale that comes to our city each year. It’s held in a large venue and there are hundreds of tables – all displaying an abundance of antiques, most of which are also for sale. This year the event was held on the the third weekend of April. The look, the feel, and the smell of the thousands of vintage items on display takes me away to another time, a simpler time, and I love it all.
It took me nearly five blissful hours to make my way through the aisles – rows upon rows of tables and shelves, vintage suitcases and boxes, all filled with wonderful treasures of years gone by. The photos below represent a very small portion of the items that were available at the show/sale.
I purchased a few items to add to my collection: several old photographs, postcards, pieces of vintage ephemera, and a few antique books.
One of the books I purchased is volume I of The Villa Gardner. It is a bound volume of issues from April 1870 to March 1871. The cover is worn and shabby but I know some of you create beautiful works of art with worn and shabby vintage graphics and I thought you might enjoy having these front and back covers.
There are several illustrations throughout the book. I chose one of my favorites to share with you, a red currant tomato.
Here is a black and white clip art version of the image.
The green book I purchased is titled Sagacity and Morality of Plants, by J. E. Taylor, circa 1884. I chose this image of an Annual Dog’s Mercury botanical illustration from the book to share with you.
Here is a black and white clip art version of the plant.
I scanned and packaged many of the other botanical illustrations from the book into a set that I’ve added to my Etsy shop.
Preview image is linked to my shop.
18 thoughts on “Antique Show and Free Vintage Images”
How I would have loved to be there…..how could you decide what to buy? I love it all! Thanks for sharing with us.
You’re welcome, Pat. Deciding what to buy isn’t always easy. 🙂 I left one thing behind that I wish I would have bought and that was a 1966 pattern catalog (the kind of large book you choose patterns from in a fabric shop).
Wow, fantastic!!!! I thought it was so cool to see “British Columbia” and Victoria, and North Vancouver on some of the post cards, as I live in Vancouver BC! I love old postcards. What a great haul.
That’s neat, Loretta. 🙂
What a wonderful haul, I love the vintage postcards and ephemera. Thank you for sharing. Creative Blessings, Tracy x
Thank you, Tracy. xx
We used to have these once a month when I lived in Atlanta at the old fairgrounds and the Scott antique market. Did you mean to share your photos as well? I love that secretary, and the ephemera cards.
Ohhhh, Rebecca, once a month would be incredible! I sometimes get asked where I source my vintage graphics and I thought it would be fun to do a “show and tell” for a change. The images that can be used for crafts and/or designs are the ones that can be clicked on to bring up a larger version (the book covers, illustrations and clip art images). Thank you for checking. 🙂
Yes, I loved the secretaire, too, and the second photo of the oil lamps – these are just amazing!
How wonderful for you!
Hi Vera! It was such fun. 🙂
What a fun and exciting trip…awe, I can just smell the scent of beautiful vintage. Glad you had fun and as always, thank you very much for the goodies!
Blessings~
You’re welcome Kimberly, and thank you. 🙂
What a wonderful way to spend an afternoon! Treasures all! Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome L.M. S. It definitely was a fun way to spend the afternoon. 🙂
Wow 5 hours of looking through all those goodies, I would have been exhausted after all that but still fun to check it all out!
Connie, my feet were sore and I was exhausted by the end of it. Much too tired to cook and picked up a burger for dinner on the way home that night. All worth it though! 🙂
Oh how I would have loved to be there with you Julie. Looks like you got some neat stuff. xx
Helen, it would have been wonderful to have a like-minded friend along for the adventure! xx