Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: paintbrushes

Buster Brown and his dog Tige on a valentine postcard, circa 1907, by cartoonist Richard F. Outcault (1863-1928). For another Buster Brown valentine, see Here's a Wireless Telegram—Be My Valentine . "I want you to be my valentine. It doesn't seem to be a secret. R. F. Outcault. Raphael Tuck & Sons, Limited. London, Paris, New York, Montreal."

A reward of merit dated 1875. Unfortunately, the small but colorful chromolithographed scrap glued to the middle of the card isn't positioned correctly (take a look at a rotated version instead of craning your neck), but the elaborate design surrounding the scrap makes up for it. The nineteenth-century "maxim" printed on the card reminds me of the modern quip about know-it-alls: "Those who think they know everything annoy those of us who do." For another reward of merit printed by Colton, Zahm, & Roberts, see Look Up and Not Down . Golden Maxim Reward Those who know everything in general, know nothing in particular. Colton, Zahm, & Roberts, New York. Written on the back of the card: "1875, James M. Stoner."

A rotated view of this reward of merit provides a better--though still tilted--view of the chromolithographed scrap added in the middle For the original, see Those Who Know Everything in General Know Nothing in Particular .

Here's a wireless telegram That I will send to you I'm in love with you—I am I love you 'deed I do Be my valentine. R. F. Outcault Cartoonist Richard F. Outcault (1863-1928) featured Buster Brown and his dog Tige—both of them winking and smiling—in this valentine from 1904.

Intended as a rocking horses photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten on the back of this cabinet card photo: "Roy Peiffer, cousin. Born about 1905." (If the name and date are correct, then this may be Roy Peiffer , 1905-1990.) Photographer: "Strunk, cabinet portraits, 730 Penn St., Reading, Pa." I've been planning all week to use this photo as my rocking horse. On Flickr, I found a similar photo that's titled "The Rocking Horse Winner" - circa 1890 Cabinet Card . It's from the same studio and shows a little boy standing beside the same horse. I was surprised and disappointed, however, when I did some more searching yesterday and discovered another cabinet photo with the horse that's for sale on a military antiques Web site. Unlike my photo and the one on Flickr, the third photo on the antiques site clearly reveals that the horse is standing on a wooden base with four wheels--there are no rockers. Since I won't have a chance to get another photo ready to post before the end of the week, I'll have to throw myself on the mercy of the court and ask the indulgence of my fellow Theme Parkers. If anyone objects to my submission of a wheeled--rather than a rocking--horse for this week's theme, I'll gladly withdraw it.

The Joker from a miniature deck of playing cards illustrated by cartoonist Richard F. Outcault in 1907. Buster Brown and his dog Tige were characters in Outcault's Buster Brown comic strip, which first appeared in 1902. See below for the design from the back of the card .

The design from the backs of playing cards in a miniature deck illustrated by cartoonist Richard F. Outcault in 1907. Outcault created the Buster Brown comic strip in 1902. See below for the front of the Joker card from this set.

"Hinkle's Handy Egg Colors. Manufactured by Hinkle Drug Co., Columbia, Pa....Not for use in coloring any food except shell eggs. Contents--6 one-dram bottles." Front panel of a small box containing six small glass tubes with corks. Inside the glass tubes are the dried-out remains of the different colors of Easter egg dye.

A curious photographer props (huge urns or plants, strange objects, taxidermy animals, etc.) photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "E. M. Criswell, Grand Meadow, Minn. Extra finish." A tall bearded fellow--his appearance reminds me of Rasputin , the Russian mystic and confidant to Tsar Nicholas II--stands in front of a painted backdrop and next to an oddly shaped prop as he poses for this cabinet card photo. Is that enigmatic object supposed to look like natural or carved stone? If not, I'm not certain what it's intended to represent.

"William T. Haig, house & sign painting, graining & glazing, 1902 Harland St., Philadelphia." A Victorian business card illustrated with some tools of the painting trade.