Jumat, 20 Juni 2014







And now for the kiss of the wind,
And the touch of the air’s soft hands,
With the rest from strife and the heat of life,
With the freedom of lakes and lands.

Excerpt from Paul Laurence Dunbar

IN SUMMER

Valentine is closed for the summer and will reopen September 12 with 
David Brody
Cindy Tower
Liz Ainslie

Senin, 16 Juni 2014

Knights in Shining Armor


To my Valentine I'd love to put an ARM around you!

Knight in Suit of Armour
Flat
made in USA



You're my KNIGHT in shining armor Valentine.

3 1/2" x 5 1/2"
circa 1960s 
 Pop-Up
 marked: CPC
 4504/7
made in USA



May I be your Knight Today?

2 1/4" x 4 1/4"
circa 1950s
 Mechanical Flat
no publisher's marks

Minggu, 15 Juni 2014

Maker - The Buzza Co and Buzza Cardozo


Yes..I've got a bow around me But it doesn't suit my taste, 'Cause gee! the only Beau I've got Is the one around my waist.

4 1/2" x 6 3/4"
circa 1930s
  Flat with Stand
marked: Buzza Co
MPLS, USA
Pre name change to Buzza-Cardozo in late 1930s

George Earl Buzza (born June 22, 1882) had already been working as a commercial artist when he began making greeting cards in 1909. He started with a set of 24 different designs that have been described as "poster-like" and stood out as unusual in the greeting card market. The company was first called The Buzza Rheem Company, soon changing to The Buzza Company. 

Though he struggled for the first 6 years, eventually his unusual style and high quality won over many fans leading the company to expand in 1915, from its one-man show origins. They had of course by then, long ago moved on from the original poster style of the earliest cards, expanding to include a diverse array of cards. C. D. Van Gorder is credited with helping design quite a number of cards after this point. Ralph Nunus Cardozo (b June 14, 1894) who went on to become a partner with Buzza after the sale of the original Buzza company, was with the company in its early years. Other important early figures include artists Lee Mero, Bernice Shaver and Janet Scott.


I want my Sweetie!

3" x 4 5/8"
circa 1930s
  Flat with Stand
marked: The Buzza Co
MPLS, USA

A4145

In 1922 the company obtained exclusive rights to use the writings of "Just Folks" poet, Edgar A. Guest, in its cards and mottos. In addition the company employed J. P. McEvoy as a writer. George Buzza himself continued to contribute his own creativity, including original verse, to the cards his company produced. Another hallmark of the company was the high quality and often unusual colors and textures of the papers used in manufacturing their greetings.

The company moved from Minneapolis, Minnesotta to Hollywood, California in the 1930s. At the same time they changed their name to Buzza-Cardozo with Ralph Cardozo now a full partner with George Buzza. There are mentions in some sources of the original company being sold with George Buzza planning to retire upon his move to California. Whether this was the intention or not, it was not to become reality, as George instead launched a new endeavor with Ralph Cardozo, who also made the trek from Minnesota to California. The building they had occupied in the Uptown neighborhood of Minneapolis from 1923 remained a design studio for the company after the move, until 1942 when it was acquired by the federal government and used for war-time manufacturing by the Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company. Still bearing the Buzza name, the building is now listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.


 Me for You on Valentine's Day - I'd like to pilot Cupid's Boat Upon Love's ocean blue Then quickly bring it into port And just TIE-UP to you.

5 3/4" x 3 1/4"
circa 1920s  
  Flat
   by The Buzza Co
 marked: Craftacres, Mpls., U.S.A.

While some sources report the liquidation of the company around World War II, this appears to be jumping the gun. There are copyright entries for the company dating into at least 1964. Gibson purchased Buzza-Cardozo in the early 1950s, so was likely continuing the name for some period after the purchase.

George Buzza passed away in Guatemala on April 11th, 1957 on his way home to Los Angeles after a vacation. Ralph Cardozo passed on January 17, 1965.





***************************************************************

sources:
  • Valentine Treasury - Robert Brenner
  • The Romance of the Greeting Card (1956 revised edition) - Ernest Dudley Chase
  • Obituary of George Buzza, Cedar Rapids Gazzette; April 14, 1957
  • National Register of Historic Places Registration form for the Buzza Building
  • Valentines: A Collector's Guide - Barbara Johnson, Ph. D.
  • Cincinnati Magazine, Aug 1975; Greetings from Gibson, by Carole M. McCarthy; pp 13

Sabtu, 14 Juni 2014

Maker - S. Bergman



A Choice Heart to Let not For Sale Inquire of Owner (on sign) To My Valentine, You may not believe this sign to be true That's why I've put it here in full view.

Postcard
circa 1910s
5 1/2" x 3 1/2"
by S. Bergman
divided back
 Bernhardt Wall did several cards for Bergman that are very similar in style to this

Artist - Jason Freixas



To My Valentine Greetings Who's afraid of your dog? I was going to give it to you any way.

Postcard
dated 1918
5 1/2" x 3 1/2"
by Gibson Art Company
with Freixas signature


Jason Freixas, like Katharine Gassaway, is another of the much-collected postcard and valentine artists about whom very little is known. It does seem to be a fairly common recurring theme. Perhaps it was a lack of respect for the work of ephemera artists because of its commercial nature? Perhaps just different times with much narrower public interest in the private lives of publicized names? For whatever reason, though he was very successful, selling quite a number of cards, interest in the man himself while he was active was quite limited to non-existent. Such basic information such as birth and death dates are unknown. He is said to be Canadian-American in some sources, but I have not found any concrete information to support this or any particular heritage.


 To my Valentine

2" x 3 7/8"
circa 1910s
smoking cupid
by Jason Freixas
(a few sources spell the last name differently, moving the 'i' to the other side of the 'x': Jason Frexias)
flat
made in Germany

His work for John O. Winsch is probably his most popular, with his Halloween cards for Winsch topping those. There are dimensional cards that combine the artwork of Freixas with another popular Winsch artist, Samuel L. Schmucker. While there are die-cut cards that are said to have been published by Winsch, these do not bear the company name. Only a few of his cards were signed by Freixas.


You Are A Good Catch

9 1/8" x 6 5/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Jason Freixas
flat
no publisher marks

Like many of the card illustrators covered in The Valentine Museum, children were Frexias's main subject. Some of his figures, such as those seen in the Gibson postcard at the top of the page, can bear a remarkable resemblance to the work of Grace Drayton. Careful consideration of the faces, paying great attention to the eyes, can help distinguish between the two artists. 


The Greatest Game of all is Love for there we make a strike, And with a little Valentine, we win the one we like.

6 5/8" x 8 3/4"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Jason Freixas
flat with stand on back
no publisher marks

Some of the cards to be found with recognizable Frexias children were created by unknown publishers, who lifted bits of work by him and other artists like Frances Brundage, to use in their own cards. Usually the print and paper quality will be diminished on these. This practice, while dubious, was not uncommon among small publishers in the early part of the 19th century.


Come be my little Valentine Through fair and stormy weather, Then we will have a lovely time And ship through life together. Valentine Greeting.

6 5/8" x 5"
circa 1910s
by Jason Freixas
Heart folds back to form stand
no publisher marks

When looking for his work, be aware of the variations on the spelling of his last name out there. I have written it as appears on my signed cards. It is spelled differently, changing the placement of the vowels, in some source books.


 Lovely Maid, I jest can't say what I want to this Valentines Day. You are the only one for me, Forever and a day; I want you for my Valentine And Love will find a way.


6 5/8" x 5"
dated 1917
by Jason Freixas
Heart folds back to form stand
no publisher marks



 A Gift of Love.


2 1/2" x 2 3/4"
circa 1910s
by Jason Freixas
marked: Germany

 Valentine Thoughts.

2 1/4" x 3"
circa 1910s
by Jason Freixas
marked: Germany


 If I can steal this heart of thine I'll have thee for my Valentine.

2 1/4" x 4 5/8"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Jason Freixas
no publisher's marks


Equal Franchise No Votes No Hearts Votes for Women(on the bench) Sweetheart, I cannot keep away, this love of mine is true; My passion is most marked, Because I have designs on you.

2 1/2" x 2 3/4"
circa 1910s, 1920s
by Jason Freixas
marked: Germany


********************************************************************************
Companies Jason Freixas is Known to Have Worked For:
(this list may not be complete)

  • John O. Winch
  • Gibson Art Co
  • Pink of Perfection (Fairman)
  • Gottschalk, Dreyfus and Davis
  • GOM (Gebrueder Obpacher, Muenchen)
  • Stecher
  • Henry Heiningen Co NY