what the hell — let’s go for three in a row. i don’t expect people come this way anymore looking to read about food anyway, so here’s another post about printed paper.
on my way down to the comics last friday, i made a detour into city gallery — a little room at the melbourne town hall — for “paper city“, an exhibition of historical melbourne letterheads. yeah!
featuring an assortment of letters sent to the town hall since the mid-1800s, this collection showcases the evolution of design, print technology, language, industry, society and culture all in one fell swoop. even if you just go for the pretty pictures, you will witness how the overwrought charm of the victorian-era specimens eventually gave way to the unfortunate clunk of the 1980s. inbetween, there is a great mix of striking and quirky.
each piece of correspondence was worded most eloquently. each missive received was stamped and dated by the office, with an annotation by the clerk of what action was to be carried out. of course, there are some samples of lovely handwriting. ah… i used to have handwriting.
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I miss getting letters in the post! The crinkle of paper as you unfolded each sheet, and the marvel at seeing someone’s handwriting page after page. Lost joys.
Mmm, nothing gets me going like a nicely written letter in modified cursive! Or failing that, cheque from an old manual typewriter, tap, tap, tap…
hello, girls! yes, i remember a childhood of japanese stationery sets, with matching paper, envelope and stickers, and also a host of penpals scientifically matched by computer. i must say, getting comments in my inbox is just as pleasing! thanks! 🙂
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[…] i did eat that day. after the inkpad and gloves (ok, and crocheted necklace and teatowel), and the vintage letterheads and comics, i found myself in need of sustenance. i’d been reading about the cafe, mister […]