https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Darboy-ImitationOfChrist/pages/310-full-page-christian-border/

A full-page border, or page surround, featuring Christian religious figures, birds, and a crocodile or dragon (which is intended? i am uncertain). It’s from an 1855 edition of Imitation of Christ.

#vintageEngraving #christianity #border #A4 #GIMP #GIMP3 #xsane #Darboy #imitationOfChrist #oldBooks #fobo

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/OldEngland/pages/2113-James-I-s-Cradle/

This 1590s cradle is still kept at his mother’s house, Stirling Castle (in case he returns as a zombie prince?)

This is the same King James who ordered the Authorized Version of the Bible, known popularly as the King James Bible, to be made.

#vintageEngraving #cradle #furniture #rocker #fobo #GIMP #GIMP3

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/JuliusWolff-PiedPiperOfHamelin/pages/000-front-cover/

A large book, maybe 14 or 16 inches high, with a bright cover. The book is a retelling of the Pied Piper of Hamelin, or a novel based on it, i’m not sure.

Usually i don’t post the covers here, but this one is quite fun.

#GIMP #GIMP3 #Book_covers #piedPiper #vintageArt #vintageEngraving #fobo

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/JuliusWolff-PiedPiperOfHamelin/pages/188-explore-the-dungeon/

From a version of The Pied Piper of Hamelyn by Wolff, Julius: “Der Rattenfänger von Hameln: Eine Aventiure” (1890).

Here Lorenz goes down into the castle cellar to confront the ghosts - but they turn out to be rats.

Drawn by Paul Thumann & engraved by Richard Brend’amour.

#vintageEngraving #vintageArt #castle #medieval #piedPiper #rats #fobo #GIMp #Gimp_3 #xsane #didIMentionTheRats #illustrationsForChildren

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Brennecke-WechselDerTage/pages/108-seaside/

A setting for a poem (see link) about keeping a sense of childish joy and wonder as we grow older.

Everyone on this beach is fully clothed, including shoes and socks, which suggests to me a somewhat restrained sense of joy and wonder.

No artist or engraver credited. And is that a seagull eating a squirrel at upper left?

#vintageArt #victorianCostime #vintageEngraving #fobo #GIMP #xsane #poetry #seaSide #beach #seaShore #children #border

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Various-LeisureHour-1896/pages/573-securing-the-irons/

Leg-irons are considered torture by the UN today (although they are used routinely in some countries) and can cause serious injury long term, but this picture and the article were over a hundred years ago. The prisoners wore different coloured hats depending on the length of their sentence.

Used a larger image to see if it comes out better.

#vintageEngraving #ankleCuffs #fetters #prison #prisoners #slaves #slavery $fobo #GIMP #legirons #shackles #fetters #historical

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Various-LeisureHour-1896/pages/437-london-driving/

There is nothing new under the sun: this 1896 illustration by Alfred Chantry Corbould goes with an article about London drivers and how bad they are.

#londonHistory #London #horseAndCarriage #vintageIllustration #vintageArt #AlfredChantryCorbould #blackAndWhite #vintageEngraving #driving #LondonBusDrivers #fobo #GIMP #GIMP3

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Berthet-Paris/pages/333-la-fondation-de-paris/

A somewhat fanciful illustration of the founding of Paris; probably it is depicting the Roman conquest of the encampment of the Celtic Parisii tribe.

I’m not 100% happy with the way the Web resolutions came out, but the print resolution will reproduce well.

#quintessentiallyFrench #Paris #history #celts #druids #fobo #vintageEngraving #vintageArt #GIMP #GIMP3 #xsane

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/Marcelin-LaVieParisienne-1863/pages/572-cut-into-six-pieces/

Another of these weird illustrations. @bosak was right, i am now sure - it’s satire, poking fun at the “Spiritists”. I transcribed some of the article (with English via Google Translate).

#vintageEngraving #satire #GIMP #GIMP3 #sketch #puppet #vintageArt #tabloid #spiritists

https://www.fromoldbooks.org/CirclingTheYear-1870/pages/136v-christmas-initial-letter-c/

This decorative initial was used as a drop cap (dropped capital) for the word Christmas starting an 1870 article entitled “Christmas with the Poets”.

Drop caps bring attention to the start of a new section or chapter, and help people find their way by flipping through the pages of a printed book.

Print jargon: this initial is foliated and vignetted

#initial #dropCap #decoratedInitial #fobo #GIMP #GIMP3 #vintageEngraving #Christmas #xmas #holly #letterC #the_letter_c