Vintage magazines, newspapers, and books make excellent gifts when you are looking for something different and unusual. For people who are hard to buy for, they offer an opportunity to give them something they have never received before.
Vintage Books
You can of course shoot for the moon and look for a first edition book from one of the great authors of the 19th or early 20th century. This may be a bit rich for the average person but it will no doubt impress. This is the sort of gift that you need to look for early if you want to find the best deal. Consignment shops, antique malls, and second-hand stores can be great places to look. Consider the things that the recipient might have read as a young person, Hardy Boys or Nancy Drew in early editions are great gifts for those who grew up in the 30s, 40s, and 50s.
One of the best gifts I ever gave was to a friend who is an art lover. It was an art exhibit catalog that he had missed in the 1970s. It was very rare and hard to find but it was priceless to my friend and I will never forget the look on his face when he opened it.
Finding the perfect vintage book only requires that you know your recipient well enough to know what they would enjoy. This is perhaps not the gift for an acquaintance but rather a close friend. It is a custom gift that is not a one size fits all sort of thing but rather very personalized.
Vintage Magazines
One gift that I have given a number of times is a copy of Life or Look Magazine for the week of a person’s birth. Have you ever wondered what was happening the week you were born? Giving the gift of a vintage magazine can answer that question for you. Many antique malls will have a vintage magazine dealer and it is not very hard to find a copy for the date you may be looking for.
You can also use this for an anniversary gift. Imagine the look on your grandmother’s face if you give her the magazine that was on the newsstands the week she was married 50 years ago. Older fashion magazines are also available for the person who enjoys vintage style. Just use your imagination.
Vintage Newspapers
Vintage newspapers are more fragile than magazines. They are also harder to find but not impossible. It might take a little more work but with sites like eBay you may get lucky and find the exact newspaper you want for the perfect gift. In the past, birth notices were almost always printed in newspapers and I am sure that you can image the surprise on your parent’s faces if you were able to find their birth notice or even your spouse or their original wedding notice.
Vintage Ephemera
Many other vintage papers are available for gift giving. Postcards are among the most popular along with Victorian Valentine and Christmas cards. Collectors will love these.
Another gift that I have personally given on several occasions is a vintage map. Consider giving an 1850s map of the town where the recipient is from. You can also find vintage maps of the county of origin in Europe or counties in England or Ireland. Some of the older maps even list the families who were living on the streets depending on how small the town was and how detailed the map.
I am also a big fan of hand painted fashion prints from magazines like Godey or Peterson and botanical prints. They are also available from French and English Magazines.
Giving a gift of vintage paper can be an unusual and affordable way to surprise and delight the members of your family and your friends. I shared some of my favorites but give your imagination free rein and start hitting the antique malls and thrift shops.
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