COLLECTION #112: Vintage Christmas Magazines

I love old magazines... it doesn't matter if they are from the 1920s or 1970s, they are so rich in history, popular culture, art and design. In my magazine stash are quite a number of December or holiday issues... I have them from every decade but the 1930s. (That's sad, because I LOVE the 1930s!)  Included in my collection are three December issues of the Children's Friend- a publication of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from the early 1900s until 1970. I have lots of Children's Friends- my earliest one is from 1915. I love the sweet cover of the 1944 issue... you gotta love the wholesome children's faces, so happy and innocent. I also have the 1954 and 1958 issues.

The WWII era Boy's Life Magazine was published right after the war, but still has the flavor of the war, with a great military presence in its articles and ads.

Coronet Magazine from 1954

Better Homes & Garden from 1963, Good Housekeeping from 1970

Illustration from Coronet

Yummy treat & fabulous lighting from Good Housekeeping

Fabulous non-traditional Christmas colors, and oh-so-modern decor from 1963. Just like Mad Men!

I think this is where I get my advertising design sense... fabulous classic ad from 1963

I have a few women's magazines of the '50s, '60s and '70s: Coronet, Better Homes and Gardens, and Good Housekeeping. It's really fun to see the articles, and especially the crafts, food and home decorating ideas from the past. Awesome photos and illustrations!

My copy of Nature Magazine is the December 1924 issue, and I love the cool graphics and wonderful magazine layout and design.  There are lots of interesting articles about Christmas trees and plants, and winter activities. There's even an article about wooden toys!

An article in Nature Magazine, and the answer was "NO!"

Great Lincoln Logs ad from 1924

The last magazine in my collection, is a yearly publication from the early 1960s, called Christmas: An American Annual of Literature and Art. It's exquisitely designed, with amazing artwork and stories. Christmas was published annually by the Augsburg Publishing Co. in Minneapolis from 1931 until the 1980s.

COLLECTION #72: Vintage Children's Magazines

 
Here are some of my young people's magazines from the 40s, 50s, and early 60s. I love looking at children's magazines of the past:  seeing the illustrations, reading the sweet stories, looking at the vintage advertisements, and catching a glimpse of life in a simpler, less politically correct time, is great fun.

 I have a couple of Boys Life magazines from the mid '40s, a  Children's Friend from the '30s (I actually have a much larger Children's Friend collection which I shall feature down the road), Polly Pigtails, Jack and Jill from the 40s, Humpty Dumpty's from the early '60s, and a fun magazine called '58 For Young New Yorkers. (I have been unable to find any information online about this magazine, if you have seen it before, or know anything, please let me know!)

'58 For Young New Yorkers had more sophisticated articles and stories than the other children's magazines of the era.

I am particularly proud of my Jack and Jill magazine from 1947. The cover was painted by renowned children's artist Leo Politi, who painted the murals in the children's library of my hometown South Pasadena. I have loved his work, read all his books as a child, and felt that he was one of 'our own' local artists.

One of my favorite magazines is "Polly Pigtails". This long-running magazine for girls had stories, articles, and comic pages. It was published by the Parents Magazine Institute. My issue is April 1948.

Humpty Dumpty's Magazine is also a long running children's publication. I illustrated for Humpty Dumpty's for about 10 years off and on, so this magazine is one of my favorites for sentimental reasons.

I hope you enjoy my little collection!