1901 - A Maiden's Cheek and Lovely Litho Dots

I wasn't going to share the cover of the 1901 Burpee catalog cover as it looked so saccharine.

But, when I saved it at full scan resolution it was lovely.

The apple cheeked maiden just glowed!

1901 - Explore Burpee's Quarter Century Catalog

I am such a sucker for a fun bird's eye view lithograph, and, for some reason, the architectural boastings of seedsmen.
Have fun walking around the Burpee farms and stores, don't trip over the litho dots :-)

Source

1892 - Lithography Dots from Mastodon Corn; W. W. Barnard & Co

Litho Dots

I have to recover from my last poor choice in seed articles.

Here is a selection of my beloved dots from a back cover of a W. W. Barnard & Co catalog from 1892.

(Plus, any corn named Mastodon deserves not to be forgotten.)

Nice Link: The Flowering of Color Printing (About Lithography)

Lovely shell pattern of dots below :-)

Hexagonal dot filled patterns below are not all the same... which is what I find so attractive.

1892 - Litho Surfing on a John Lewis Childs' Fall Bulb Catalog

You can't beat a lithographed catalog for luxuriant surfaces.

Your attention can slide down the sweeps of color, twirl around a curlicue, and wipe out with a plop in the center of a blossom! 

Love it!!!
 
 

1894 - Today's Farm Litho: Bird's Eye View of Burpee Seed Farm

What can make a lithograph more appealing to me?  
Being a bird's eye view of something, that's what!!

It is just so much fun to walk around the farm with those little people.  Enjoy!

 I love the stipling. It can evoke so much detail with a pile of dots and overprinted colors.

Want to see the whole catalog?Burpee's farm annual 1894

1891 - Seedsman John Child's Colorful Vegies Litho

'Tis the season of harvest...and I sure wish mine looked like this!  It is the Marimekko of vegetables! 

I can't resist sampling the litho.  Just love those dots!

1896 - The "Marchioness of Bute" Dahlia Litho

It must be the litho dots.  I am just attracted to them.  
Below is the Marchioness.  She was featured on the 1896 John Gardiner & Co. catalog.



I had not encountered any of John Gardiner's catalogues before this week.  They are not especially noteworthy as they lack the over-the-top charm or vegetable enthusiasm that I prize. 

However,  one of them is rather different and is worth sharing.
Not very appealing, but a lot of work went into this earlier 1890 catalog.

 

Victorian jardinieres are so ugly they are almost cute.

To-Die-For Litho Columbine Seed Packet from Toronto

Be still my heart...I love this one.  
I have not found many packets for the Steele Bros., Toronto. They are an old company.  I think I found a 19th century reference to them.
There were two more packets but my computer ate them.

1910ish - Luxurious Litho of a Lima Bean

Can't help it!  I am just drawn to the the lithos on seed packets.  Maybe it's all the little dots...the rich colors...the simple shapes...  Whatever it is, they make me feel good.