Girl with several dolls, 1897

  This illustration is charming, but the poem that goes along with it really caught my attention. It’s titled "The Homely Doll" and it starts:

I have a dozen dolls, or more
   In handsome dresses dressed,
With faces fair, and flaxen hair
   That sparkles like a crest.
The oldest is the ugliest,
   And her I love the best.

It goes on to describe her poor "homely" doll, with sawdust seeping out of her body and missing both an arm and a foot. She's in rough shape, but still, she's the favorite.

  This poem and picture were included in the 1897 book called "Funny Stories and Jolly Plays for Winter Nights and Summer Days", a collection of "catchy rhymes and amusing stories" for little ones. 

This image is in the public domain (published in the United States more than 95 years ago) and can be used freely. Click on it for a larger version and then save.

Girl makes doll gown with grandmother, 1913

  Alice is going to be in a wedding, and she's determined that Little Girl Blue, her beloved doll, should get to be a part of the festivities, too. Who can make a lovely gown for Miss Girl Blue? Of course, it's Grandma to the rescue!

  There are some lovely illustrations in the book, "Little Girl Blue Plays 'I Spy!'", written by Josephine Scribner Gates and published in 1913. Frustratingly, no credit was given to the creator of those illustrations. (Not even in the copyright forms filed for the book. Yes, I checked!) 

"Grandma dearly loved to dress dolls, and she joyously fashioned the pretty gown."

    There are a few more pictures from this book I saved - I hope you'll like them as much as I do! 

  

  As an aside, what do you think about the large hair bows of this time period? I'm not sure I would have been a fan!

  Buying doll wedding gown supplies! And after all that work is finished, there are still dishes to be done. Good thing Alice has a little helper to assist...

  These images are all in the public domain (having been published in 1913, more than 95 years ago). They can be used freely. Click on an image to view a larger version, save to your computer, and enjoy! 

Wet Paint, 1900

   This dollhouse is going to be quite a prize...but first, the paint has to dry!  

  This is a sweet image. Maybe the boy is just a kind brother, or maybe he's hoping to win this gal's heart by his work painting her dollhouse. 

  This is the cover image of the bound edition of "The Prize for Girls and Boys" for 1900. There are no hints about who illustrated this, or many of the images inside the magazine, either. That's not unusual, but it's still irksome to me. And so far, this is the only edition I can find online of this magazine, though it was published in England for several years. 

  Just for fun, the original cover is below. These are both public domain and can be used freely. Click on either image for a larger version, then save!

Girl serving cookies to her dolls, 1930

  Cookies are served!

  That's what this girl seems to be saying to her dolls, propped up comfortably on the couch in the finery. (Perhaps it's a party?) Except for that poor boy doll who is left to sit on the floor. (I hope he at least gets a cookie!) 

  Lucille Enders is the illustrator of this fun scene, from the children's book "In All France: Children in Town and Country". 

  Having been published in Chicago in 1930, this image is in the public domain and can be used freely. Click on the image for a larger version. 

Playing with dolls, 1888

  I could play with my dollhouse for hours, and this little girl looks just as content with her doll family as I remember feeling!

  These illustrations are from a book called "A Merry Go-Round", illustrated by Constance Haslewood and published in 1888. 

  The resolution is not great, but perhaps that just adds to the vintage charm. And I always love seeing children in a completely different era playing in ways that are so similar to how I played, and how I've seen kiddos I love play. 

  Expect more from this book (coming soon!) but for now, enjoy these! Click on the image for a larger version and then save - they are both well into the public domain and out of copyright.

A young artist, 1906

   This is a nice image by Katharine H. Greenland, but it's even better when matched with the poem that accompanied it in the 1906 book "Candle Light" by Georgia Roberts Durston. 

  The poem is called Two Artists: 

My Mother's color-box is twice

As large as mine and clean and nice,

With brushes just like kitten fur.

So soft, they scarcely make a blur,

And every time she paints with one,

A lovely picture will be done.

And yet, you'd be surprised to see

How proud my Mother is of me.

She says she loves the things I do,

She says I am an artist too,

And hangs her pictures up with mine,

All nice and even in a line.

   Aww, I think that's just so sweet. And being the recipient of some kid drawings that I treasure, I have no doubt that the mom in that poem truly does love what that little girl creates!

  As a bonus, one more Greenland illustration from the same book. This one went with a poem called Her Dolls. She's pointing out a doll, as the poem describes each one. But it looks to me like she might be scolding one. Hey, it's not easy being a young mother to so many little ones!

Two girls playing dolls, 1890s

   I'm not usually one to care about fashion, or, really, even notice it too much. But the dress and little boots on the girl with the braids drew my attention...and then I saw that adorable little pram! I would have *loved* one of those when I was little. (Or now...just saying!)

   This is from a book called "A Christmas Box of Pretty Stories". The artist is unknown to me; even the authors of the stories here go uncredited. All I can say for sure is that it was published by McLoughlin Bros. in New York, probably in the 1890s. The same image also appears in "The Book of Dollies" by Mary E. Gellie, published in 1890. 

  This image is out of copyright and can be altered, shared, crafted with...anything you want! Click on the image to see a larger version and then save and enjoy! 

Girl hugging grandmother, 1887

   This one hit me hard. The illustration and the story it accompanies went right to my heart. Poor Nora’s favoritest doll meets with misfortune in the form of a mischievous kitty. She runs to her grandma in tears, certain her doll is ruined. But grandma saves the day, as grandmas often do. She tells Nora about a similar experience she had as a girl, all while fixing the damage to the beloved doll.

   The story ends with Nora exclaiming,

“I do think that grandmas are the very best folks to have around when things happen!”

I heartily agree. I was fortunate enough to have a nana much the same, who seemed to be able to fix everything at any time. Let's hear it for those very special grandmas! 

   This image was included in the Little One’s Annual, a collection of stories, poems, and illustrations for children published in 1887. It accompanied the short story, “Dolls’ Trials” by Mary Elizabeth Northam (M.E.N.) Hatheway. 

Ruth Mary Hallock Childhood Illustrations, 1904

   I've shared enough images that a pattern has started to emerge. I love "home-y" scenes - mothers and babies, children playing, girls with dolls. 

   Ruth Mary Hallock seems to be a pro at illustrating scenes like these. The ones in this post were all created by Hallock for the 1904 book "Every Day Essays" by Marion Foster Washburne.

  I did alter these slightly, changing the original sepia to black-and-white. But the realism and tenderness shine through whichever way you prefer it! 

  This last one I didn't crop. The caption is just too perfect - "With wonder-filled eyes expectant of fairy marvels in a city store". The illustration depicts this marvelously - the little boy gazing at the items for sale, a little girl looking on; and who could forget that little guy trying to peek over the counter (maybe they hide the really good stuff up top!). 

  As always, these are all public domain - I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Girls Crafting with Dolls Trade Card, circa late 1800s

   New wardrobe time! These girls are busy making new dresses for their dolls. (Except for Kitty, who is determined to swat the fancy hat off one particular doll!)

  Even the toddler is getting in on the fun, with [eek!] a pair of scissors in her little fist. 

 This is a Victorian-era trade card, probably from the late 19th century. I couldn't find out any more about this one, so if you have any tips - or maybe you spot a clue I missed - I'd love to hear it! 

  Regardless, this is an adorable illustration, and I'm so glad I came across it while browsing a scrapbook filled with trade cards online. 

Vintage children by Ida Waugh, 1890

 

   I absolutely love this artwork, "Right or left?" by Ida Waugh, and I knew immediately I wanted it to be one of the first I shared here. I love the girls and the carriage and the dolls. I love the sweet, peaceful background. I don’t pretend to know art, but, having been a doll-loving little girl once upon a time, I was totally drawn to this one!

   Printed by Louis Prang & Co., 1890. Click on the image for the full size. Can also be downloaded at a higher resolution at Wikipedia Commons or Artvee.