Children playing with toy boats, circa 1897

  It's just a peaceful day, playing with toy boats in the water, until...yikes! It's getting away! 

  I hate when that happens!

  This illustration is titled "Little Mariners" from a McLoughlin Bros. book published about 1897 titled "To Pass the Time". 

  I would guess that, "to pass the time", one of these kiddos is going to have to wade into the water and catch that boat. And soon! 

  The picture is signed "L.L." in the lower right corner. That's the only indication of the illustrator I could find.

Three exuberant children, 1926

  There is so much going on in this illustration by Dorothy Furniss. Just as much chaos as three exuberant kiddos can bring to a single afternoon. Pretend play, forgotten toys, exploring cabinets...and is that lamp about to topple over??!!

   This image was found in "The Girls' Own Annual" of 1926 and accompanied the story "The Holiday Aunt" by Irene D. Soole, a tale about that aunt who knows all about children...and yet has none of her own. She's full of advice and somehow has no idea what she's doing when left to actually spend time with the children. Curious, indeed!

   If you're smirking right now, I'll assume you know the type...

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.

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! 

Playful winter illustration, 1886

 There's so much winter fun going on in this illustration! Sledding and snowball throwing and skating (and...oops - falling!). It's especially apt for promoting a business in Buffalo, New York, a place known for it's long winters. 

  This is from a page of a catalog of fall & winter fashions for 1886-1887 from Bronner's Fashionable Clothing House. (I love the name!) 

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.