Blog: Ephemera

Ephemera Society Fair



"The term ‘ephemera’ covers a wide range of documents including leaflets, handbills, tickets, trade cards, programmes and playbills, printed tins and packaging, advertising inserts, posters, newspapers and much more".

Collecting Ephemera is an addiction, it starts with the odd ticket, beermat or invitation and then before you know it you have boxes full of it. I know only too well that desire to find more, so imagine my delight in discovering not only is there an Ephemera Society, but that it's having an 'Ephemera Society Fair' this very Sunday (15th) at the Holiday Inn London Bloomsbury!

The Society was established in 1975 for the conservation, study and presentation of printed and handwritten ephemera. Annual membership is only £20 and members receive a quarterly newsletter, 'The Ephermist' and receive early entry into all the fairs and bazaars held throughout the year - bargain!

Via We Made This.

Fri 13 Jun 2008

Posted under: Design , Ephemera

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Matchbook covers


These fabulous matchbook covers are part of the Flickr group, 'Mid Century Modern - Sticker, Label + Stamp', administered Grain Edit. There are over 700 images in the group, mainly originating from Eastern Europe. The graphics are really simple and have a great print quality. They would definitely be a valuable addition to the Delicious reference box - I need to start a search!

Via Grain Edit.

Wed 11 Jun 2008

Posted under: Design , Web , Ephemera , Inspiration

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From the reference box #10










These are a couple of carboot finds - July and September 1956 issues of an Italian science magazine, 'Scienza e Vita'. The covers are great and really graphic as you can see, but the layout inside is a bit disappointing apart from the quirky diagrams, and the great photographs (some of which are very funny). Of course, I have no idea what any of the text says, but that makes the images all the more amusing.

#10 in the reference box - Italian Science Publications

Mon 09 Jun 2008

Posted under: Photography , Ephemera , Reference box , Magazine

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From the reference box #9





This was a carboot find a few years back and has been nestled in the reference box ever since. It's a 1961 Nebro Photographic Catalogue, mainly in black and white, but with a few colour pages. The product images and colour reproduction have a fantastic quality and there are some sweet little bits of type too.

There we have it #9 - 1961, Nebro Photographic Catalogue

Thu 15 May 2008

Posted under: Design , Typography , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #8


We have a great collection of fruit labels here at Delicious - here are some of our favourites. The detail is fantastic and the bold graphics, bright colours and simple print give them a lovable charm - who wouldn't want to collect them?

#8 - Selection of fruit labels

Tue 13 May 2008

Posted under: Design , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #7


You've got to love this - advertising in it's simplest form. Some kids in the local area started a car washing business last Summer and popped these on all the cars.

Exhibit #7 - Hand written car wash flyer

Tue 06 May 2008

Posted under: Advertising , Design , Typography , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #6


How great are these old Hoover Electric Washing Machine Instructions? We have a collection of vintage instruction cards and this is one of our favourites. The colour, the quality of the print and the detail of the illustrations are fantastic and for the amount of information on there, it is really well designed.

#6 then - Hoover, Electric Washing Machine Instruction Card

Mon 28 Apr 2008

Posted under: Design , Typography , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #5


Something else from the depths of the Delicious Reference box - one of our vintage photos. This one is superb, it has such great contrast, unfortunately though we have no idea, what type of planes these are, what they are doing flying in a row so close together or who took the picture, but it's still one of our favourites. Enjoy!

So here we are, #5 - vintage, aeroplane photograph

Mon 21 Apr 2008

Posted under: Funny , Photography , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #4





Here we have some vintage wine labels that have been in the Delicious reference box for quite a long time now. The quirky typography and great print quality make them far more interesting than most wine labels today. I am particularly fond of the very simple 'Bordeaux, Supérieur' and 'Vin Blanc, Moelleux' labels.

So here they are #4 - Vintage wine labels

Sun 06 Apr 2008

Posted under: Design , Typography , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #3



We love collecting these old Photographic Studio cards, the typography and typesetting are always wonderful. They are printed in a single colour onto a smooth board with a portrait and usually some foil blocking on the front, and the studio's details on the reverse as shown above.

Here is #3 - Vintage Photographic Studio Cards

Tue 01 Apr 2008

Posted under: Design , Photography , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #2


Just in case you didn't know!

Here is #2 - a very informative ticket

Thu 20 Mar 2008

Posted under: Design , Ephemera , Reference box

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From the reference box #1


The Delicious reference box is busting at the seams with inspirational items bought, found, gathered and saved from everywhere and anywhere over the last 16 years.

Here is #1 - a not-so-lucky tombola ticket.

Sat 15 Mar 2008

Posted under: Design , Ephemera , Reference box

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Welcome to the Delicious Industries blog. We're an independent design studio based in Brighton, UK and this is our scrapbook packed full of design, illustration, photography & typography inspiration. Check out our work here.

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