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Yesterday I received a fantastic package that contained a large assortment of French Cards from the 1860’s! Each card shows a stunning sample of either Spencerian Script, Typography or Monograms. Such a treasure, I’ve never seen anything like this in my 20 years of dealing with Antiques, so I think it may be quite rare! I’m told that these came from an Estate, in which the owner had owned an Antique Store in Philadelphia that closed down in the 1950’s! Anyway, shown above is an amazing Spencerian, or Pen Flourishing, Frame! I have no idea what the writing says, perhaps some of our French friends will help us out with the translation. The card is so beautiful, but I also loved the frame on it’s own, I think it would be wonderful for Wedding Stationery!! I can’t wait to share more of these, with you guys!
Jo Byrne says
Many thanks for sharing these wonderful frames Karen.
Kind regards
Jo x
Kelly says
These are beautiful Karen! thanks!
ScrappyMama says
Absolutely gorgeous!!
greatblue says
It’s from the 1817 translation by Pierre Le Tourneur of Edward Young’s Night Thoughts (written in 1742). The quote is about not wasting time, it is more precious than gold, etc. The frame seems typical of Victorian copy exercises in that it keeps the student’s mind on an uplifting moral teaching while practicing a physical skill.
“The Complaint, or Night Thoughts on Life, Death and Immortality” was the full title of Young’s poem. From Wikipedia: “Its success was enormous. It was translated into French, German, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese, Swedish and Magyar. In France it became a classic of the romantic school.” See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Young
So, a famous passage in its day, and well beyond!
Karen says
thank you for posting this. I was curious about what it said and I love the history behind it
Diane says
Thank you for sharing! You are wonderful! I appreciate you and your glorious site!
Mary K says
Once again, you seriously ROCK! Gorgeous, beautiful, amazing…etc. Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing! I only discovered your blog a month ago, I have been looking at trash in a completely different way since. I am very grateful.
kominsa says
Roughly it says
Time Table or Schedule
Let’s be sparing with our time, let the hours go from our hands only with caution, with fruit, with as much regret as when we let go of (can’t figure out what it says, it doesn’t look like a word but an abbreviation of a word), we shouldn’t let a day pass without augmenting the treasure of our knowledge and virtues.
And this is indeed gorgeous and thank you so much for this and what you post every day !
Sandrine
kominsa says
the word I couldn’t read is or (“gold”) as in “when we let go of our gold”…The “O” is so ornate I did not recognize it for what it was.
Sandrine
Karen Watson says
Thank you for your lovely comments everyone! Greatblue and Sandrine, thank you so much for your input!!!
jusaweecatnap says
Beautiful!!! Can’t wait to see what else you received. One tiny request: couldn’t help noticing you consistently spell stationery with an a. Should be with an e. Hope you don’t mind my saying that. I look forward to you emails every day.
Pat C. says
What a gorgeous frame and script! Thanks for the history of the poem, greatblue, and for the translation, kominsa!
xoxo
hoptownracer1 says
Beautiful frame! Thank you! 🙂
Kathy/NorthCarolina says
Absolutely beautiful. Thank you!
Nanou says
merci Karen. C’est magnifique. Ma grand-mère avait la même écriture!
Tout Un Fil says
ce n’est pas “lâcher” mais “céder” et “céder son or” est soit donner son argent pour quelque raison que ce soit 😉