Item Condition: Collectible; Very Good
Filled to the brim with images, this
scrap-book of the 1930s overflows with
nostalgia, for those who remember that
extraordinary era. For those who don't, this
wealth of imagery provides a vivid insight
into a time when sliced bread had just reached
the table and Butlin's holiday camps had
recently opened.
Life in the 1930s for many was not easy; for others, who had
known Victorian times, the pace of change was frightening,
and 'modern' life led to 'nerve tension'. Yet change brought a
better standard of living and numerous new products helped
the daily routine. Electrical appliances were a boon to
housewives without servants, affordable motor cars made
access to the countryside easier, new fun included Dinky
Toys, Monopoly and a stream of delectable confectionery
(Mars bars, KitKat, Black Magic, Cadbury's Roses). The
aluminium milk bottle top made its appearance. Design was
memorable for the red telephone kiosk, Anglepoise lamp and
Underground map all still in evidence today.
The Royal Family went through a turbulent year following
the death of George V, when Edward VIII decided he had to
abdicate. The speeding motorist was hampered by 30mph
restrictions, and pedestrian crossings were guarded by Belisha
beacons. By the end of the Thirties, television held exciting
promise for the future, but a growing tension focused on
impending war.
The 1930s Scrapbook has drawn together the best from the
Robert Opie Collection (on display at the Museum of
Advertising & Packaging, Gloucester). The images are as
bright today as when they were purchased in the shops.
Coronation souvenirs, film and fashion magazines, fireworks,
comics and Christmas crackers - all survive to tell a
remarkable story.
New Cavendish Books
3 Denbigh Road, London W11 2SJ
Tel: 0171 229 6765
Fax: 0171 792 0027
Specification
62 pages 379 x 267 mm
Full colour throughout
illustrating over 1400 in-
Hardback