Philately Fridays: Italy, 1970

Check out this pair of stamps commemorating the 1970 edition of the Universiade, a series of competitive sporting events for Italian University students.

Philately Fridays: Netherlands 1972

I want to share this set of stamps from Netherlands created to promote the Red Cross. I thought it was only appropriate after this week when the notion of first aid seemed to be heavy on a lot of peoples' minds. I really love the illustration style and monochromatic color schemes in these.

Sendin' this one out to my man the Groove Merchant

...comin' through with beats books for which I been searchin'.

Extra special shout out to the one Cool Chris who hooked me up with this great children's book while I was in his store over the weekend. Written and illustrated by John J. Reiss in 1974, the book introduces basic shapes and shows some larger forms to be made from them, all hosted by a band of friendly forest critters.






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Exotic Island Spice Bath Soap by Christy

Kinda wishing I was on an exotic spice bath island right now instead of in the middle of this snow and shitstorm, but what can you do? This poster was designed around 1970 by American-born graphic artist Les Mason, who spent a good deal of his career and life in Australia.



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Les Mason passed away in October 2009. You can read more about his life and work right here.

Reach out and touch someone

Designed by David Seager in 1971 for the Mail Advertising Club. I don't know if someone is getting pulled inside the mailbox or pulled out of the mailbox, either way I should probably start mailing more hands.

BRIO catalog, 1980

I found this catalog in my parents' garage while I was home over Thanksgiving. BRIO is a Swedish toy company specializing in painted wooden toys, the kind that you'd envision Santa's elves to stay up late at night making. BRIO created a cohesive universe of cars, trucks, buildings, imitation household appliances, and, most importantly, trains, all swimming in bold colors and formed from solid, clunky shapes.




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Theme Park Maps

My buddy Sam Smith hipped me to this fantastic online collection of theme park maps. Pileup blog devotees know what a huge fan I am of theme park maps, so that I really enjoy this website should come as no surprise. Here are a few highlights...

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Great Adventure, 1974


Walt Disney World, 1979


Busch Gardens Old Country, 1976


Six Flags Great Adventure, 1980

Check out the Theme Park Maps website for much more.

Philately Fridays: Israel 1975

Three stamp set from Israel garnering support against pollution, specifically of the air, water, and noise varieties. I love the tiny illustrations in the lower tear-off portions which reference the larger graphics and show what a pollution-free environment would look like.

At the zoo

Great little logo for the Asahiyama Zoo in Hokkaido Japan, designed by Susumu Endo around 1967. It's perfect for this time of year - Minneapolis just had a little blast of snow last night and I feel like a reindeer could show up at any moment.

NY Subway Map, 1972

I was home over Thanksgiving and finally got around to snapping some photos of this vintage NY Subway map my Mom, a Brooklyn native, had held on to and then framed and hung up in our house. Maybe having this in our house growing up subconsciously inspired me as a graphic designer. Either way, this poster, designed by the late great Massimo Vignelli, has always been something I love seeing when I go visit my parents and something I enjoy more and more each time I see it.


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