The Spouse, my hubby, is well-trained to never pass an op shop when out on errands and yesterday was no different.
Into the Salvo's in Chapel St, Windsor he went and, after browsing through the shelves he came out with 2 great finds.
The first was a huge book (A3 size) titled News,News,News which is a collection of 101 years of the many Australian newspapers and the varied news stories reported through the years.
A great source for history and research, the book is in perfect condition with articles from the huge variety of newspapers that graced Australian newsagency shelves, dust jacket intact with not a tear or stain to be found, a bargain for a mere $4.75.
The second find was an old gilt green leather-bound photograph album with black cardboard pages holding someone's memories of visiting England, Ireland and Wales in the (judging by the clothing styles) 1920's-1930's.
Donkey and pony carts, Irish turf sellers, the graceful lines of ladies skirts, and hats which added that little bit of mystery but were the final punctuation to a woman's outfit; a handful of photos someone cared enough to take once upon a time and are now rubbing shoulders with our collection of books, waiting to be glanced through by interested eyes, once again, for only $4.00.
We always grab these kind of finds, to give orphan photos and memories a home safe from a rubbish tip and for a glimpse into a yesterday not always deemed worthy for history books.
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3 comments:
That is such a cool idea about saving other people's photos for the sake of histroy. I've never stumbled across photo albums in an Op-Shop.
Here is a story of exactly how gorgeous things end up in opshops:
my elderly gay friend who lived alone had a heart attack and died at home on Christmas Eve.
His brother who found him days later was estranged from him over the gayness.
We found out he was dead in time for the funeral, played Swan Lake and the stupid brother, a Queens Counsel, said
"oh we didn't know Bertie had any friends".
When brother and wife cleaned out the house they dumped, at a brunswick opshop, dear berties fabulous collection of antique books on ballet and jewellery, and all his ballet paintings which were valuable.
Ann, I have heard this kind of horror story before and I'm sorry you had to experience it yourself. Through either grief or a type of revenge on the dead person personal belongings, no matter their value, are given to op shops (in some cases it was the tip!).
I have a beautiful sepia pre-WW1 family photo I found in an op shop in Bendigo decades ago- 4 siblings with their Down Syndrome sister taking centre place. I tracked the family down but, although they didn't want the pic back (they had an exact copy) they said it and other photos were sent to the op shop and the tip by a family member who wanted to wipe out the proof of his Down Syndrome aunt's existence!!!
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