Children's Handkerchiefs: A Two Hundred Year History

by J.J. Murphy

Overview

Children's printed handkerchiefs have a rich two hundred year history going all the way back to America's beginnings. Along with delighting generations of children with their colorful designs, these highly collectible items have also served a social and educational role. The earliest reflected Puritan influences, tending to be instructional, religious, and moralistic in nature. As industrial growth and prosperity changed, the very nature of childhood, sports and games, nursery rhymes, and fairy tales became more common subject matter. By the early twentieth century, storybook and comic strip characters began to appear, soon joined by such popular figures of mass culture as Mickey Mouse, Raggedy Ann, Davy Crockett, and Howdy Doody.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780764304309
Publisher:	Schiffer Publishing, Ltd.
Publication date:	12/03/1997
Series:	A Schiffer Book for Collectors Series
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	11.00(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

About the Author

J. J. Murphy is an award-winning independent filmmaker from Madison, Wisconsin. He is also a collector and part-time dealer of printed textiles, folk art, and childhood related items.

Editorial Reviews

Along with delighting generations with colorful designs, children's handkerchiefs also served social and educational roles. From early Puritan moralistic subjects, the designs evolved to depict childhood, sports and games, nursery rhymes, and fairy tales. By the Twentieth Century, storybook and comic strip characters appeared, such as Mickey Mouse, Raggedy Ann, and Davy Crockett.

Antiques and the Arts Weekly

Along with delighting generations with colorful designs, children's handkerchiefs also served social and educational roles.

Antiques & the Arts