Category: Ephemera

La Fonda Del Sol Menu

I thought I would start with something classic and what a better way to do it than with the great master and acclaimed designer Alexander Girard. This is a Dinner Menu Design for La Fonda del Sol Restaurant in New York circa 1960. It is an offset lithograph with wonderful vibrant colors. I can almost say the work done for this restaurant (specially the suns) are one of his most celebrated and recognized designs. This menu has also been featured in many museums such as the SFMOMA. So here are some closeups of the type and full shots of the menu. Enjoy!

Victoria Cruises Booklet circa 1960’s

Here’s a fun little Victoria Cruises by Incres Line booklet. I was mostly drawn to the illustrations on the outside as the inside is a bit different. I did include one inside shot for the curious ones. I don’t know much about this except for the fact that this was printed in Italy. If anyone has any clues, let me know. Enjoy!

Design: Unknown   |   Year: 1960’s?   |   Photo: Javier García

Bette Hackett Alumination Magazine

It’s time for the holiday blog post. Here’s a fun issue of Alumination Magazine with cover and feature story designed by Bette Hackett (couldn’t make out the signature completely) put out by Eureka Metals Supply Co. The fun illustrations are a mix of paper cut and other materials with painted illustrations. The story is quite fun too, it talks about why Santa choose the reindeer. So there you have it, enjoy another Christmas with this Mid Century illustrated  gem!

Design: Bette Hackett   |   Year: 1952   |   Photo: Javier Garcia

Starting with Sterling circa 1959

Here’s a fun 8.5″ x 11″ booklet put out by the Sterling Silversmiths of America, N.Y. titled “Starting with Sterling, a project book for students”. It’s some sort of interior design guide on how to choose silverware based on the type of interiors you have etc. It’s filled with fun two color illustrations and type. Designer / Illustrator is not credited. Enjoy!

Design: Unknown | Year: 1959 | Photo: Javier Garcia

Jim Flora Disc Digest Booklet circa 1946

Here’s a fun booklet filled with Illustrations all over. It’s for Columbia Records. I’m going to go ahead and label this as a Jim Flora piece since he was in charge of most of the Columbia Records materials at the time and the style of illustration matches that of Flora’s earlier career. I know that George Maas and Robert Jones also illustrated some Disc Digest issues. Please feel free to correct me if I am wrong. This one is from a record store in San Francisco. Enjoy!

UPDATE: Thanks to the wonderful Irwin Chusid — who is an expert in this subject — we now know that only the cover was designed by Jim Flora.

Design: Jim Flora | Year: 1946 | Photo: Javier García