Vila Wolf's Dyslexic Folklorist Ranting

Soldiers of the Ever Victorious Army, circa 1860’s, Taiping Rebellion.

The Ever Victorious Army was a unit of 5,000 elite shock troops armed with western firearms and commanded by experienced British and American soldiers.

The street of the clothes sellers, Zhangjiakou.

Édouard Vaumort, from Le tour du monde Paris, Leipzig, London, 1864.

(Source: archive.org)

Perry & Co Steel Pen Makers [Advertising]

The Three Little Kittens - exceptionally rare concertina style die-cut advertising with fine colour printed illustration on the front and letterpress story on the reverse 

Printed in Holland c1880

West front of Bath Abbey Church.

Frederick Mackenzie, from Cathedral antiquities of England vol. 6 by John Britton, London, 1825.

(Source: archive.org)

The cover on this 1851 copy of The Odd-fellows offering is so striking! It may look a little rough around the edges, but the inside still displays some vibrant illustrations. There is even some metallic gold detailing, that unfortunately is not properly captured by the camera.  

xAY11 O3 1851

-Lindsay M.

The Ocean and its Wonders 

R M Ballantyne 1876

Upon a sudden issued forth this sound From out one of the tombs; wherefore I pressed, Fearing, a little nearer to my Leader. (Inferno, Canto X)

Yan’ Dargent, from La divine comédie by Dante Alighieri, Paris, 1870.

(Source: archive.org)

Temperance Stories Vol II

Drummond’s Tract Depot Stirling 

Scarce

And Graffiacan, who most confronted him, Grappled him by his tresses smeared with pitch, And drew him up, so that he seemed an otter. (Inferno, Cant XXII)

Yan’ Dargent, from La divine comédie by Dante Alighieri, Paris, 1870.

(Source: archive.org)

Abingdon

David Law, from The Thames: Oxford to London with a preface by Owen John Dullea, London, 1882.

(Source: archive.org)

Cliveden.

David Law, from The Thames: Oxford to London with a preface by Owen John Dullea, London, 1882.

(Source: archive.org)

Mapledurham.

David Law, from The Thames: Oxford to London with a preface by Owen John Dullea, London, 1882.

(Source: archive.org)

So when the Angel of the Darker Drink At last shall find you by the river-brink, And, offering his cup, invite your soul Forth to your lips to quaff—you shall not shrink.

Elihu Vedder, from Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám translated by Edward FitzGerald, Boston, 1894.

(Source: archive.org)

And Lo!—the phantom caravan has reach’d The nothing it set out from—Oh, make haste!

Elihu Vedder, from Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám translated by Edward FitzGerald, Boston, 1894.

(Source: archive.org)

Central aircraft station at Notre-Dame.

From Le Vingtième Siècle, written and illustrated by Albert Robida, Paris, 1883.

(Source: archive.org)

Paris by Night.

From Le Vingtième Siècle, written and illustrated by Albert Robida, Paris, 1883.

(Source: archive.org)

Aerostat “Le Comte d’Artois”

From Les aérostats, by Louis Figuier, Paris, 1887.

(Source: archive.org)