Saturday, July 23, 2005

The 2178 to Xhainfungi



Found a great book this morning called Peoples Of Many Lands from which this image is partly taken. It was only a quid. It was from the same bookstall in the market I got the "book covers" book from. He had 5 more volumes which I was tempted to buy but didn't want to risk a hernia! If he has anymore left by Friday I may buy another. It has one great chapter about the police forces of the world and the strange uniforms they wear! I'm sure they will turn up in future collages. The steam engine is from a children's encyclopedia.

7 comments:

Scrapatorium said...

I have that same set of books! They have some great images. You should pull along one of those carts on wheels to the book stalls. I always tote one when I go to the big flea markets.

Lovely collage. I like the addition of the wheel on the bottom.

Wastedpapiers said...

I thought you might have these too as some of those clippings you sent me looked like they may have come from this set.
Those shopping carts on wheels are handy things- my mother used to swear by them! (especially when the wheels dropped off!)

Arty said...

This is absolutely lovely Michael. These old books from the days when we were an "Empire" are extraordinary-on one level they are fascinating because they have largely captured a world that has now disappeared on the other hand they generally always fall into the category of "Arn't foreigners funny?"

I have one here that has a chapter called "Queer Customs" from about 1947 which is mostly about how quaint it is to put bones in your nose or file your teeth. Sounds like Camden Lock actually.

Arty said...

Last Train to Xhainfungi

Last Train to Xhainfungi..

Last Traiiiiin to Xhainfungi

If you miss that train...

There'll never be another one....

Biddy bidddy bum bum...

Last Traiiiiin to Xhainfungi..

Wastedpapiers said...

I know- some of these photos are so bizarre that you don't need to add anything! I may upload some to Flickr to see what sort of reaction they get. Unfortunately because of the printing process am getting that yellow stripey effect on each one.

Arty said...

I have a two volume set called the "Living Races of Mankind" which was published in about 1901 or so. It has the most wonderful photographs of now largely vanished cultures-its too nice to cut up. The text is an amazing insight into the mind of the late Victorans-full of odd value judgements like the "ugly" features of Aborigine women and that while the Aboriginal warrior "may look ferocious a determined man with a stout heart and rifle will soon put them to flight...." You know the kind of thing. Meanwhile there are photographs of Arabic women posing as if in a Lord Leighton painting with not much on except perhaps pachouli oil and "acceptable" in the aesthetic mentality of the time.Still it a facinating book-some great photographs of native Americans too.

Scrapatorium said...

Yes, some of the images are so strange, it's hard to collage with them! I am drawn to science and health volumes from the 1920's. I particularly like those hand tinted images with their lush colors. Your set sounds great Arty!