Vintage Web Bookmarks Collection

From plain silk ribbons, to painted paper, different types of plastic and Sterling silver, to wood and more, bookmarks have been used throughout history to mark the page and prevent it from getting stuck in the book. They can be found in almost any type of printed or handwritten material and, like other ephemera, they often make wonderful collector’s items in their own right. URL http://www.geocities.ws/e_knorr/bookmarks.html

Many early bookmarks were woven from various materials including cotton and silk. Thomas Stevens specialized in customizing his jacquard loom to create intricately woven fabric bookmarks that were a precursor of the modern greeting card (there is even a Stevengraph Collectors Association). Later, the more economical and durable plastic was utilized for bookmarks as well. These molded examples, a seal and an elephant, date to about the 1960’s. In more recent times, laminant has been employed to add durability and longevity to a variety of fabric and paper types of bookmarks.

A Curated Collection of Vintage Web Bookmarks for Internet Nostalgia

One of the most inventive bookmarks is carved from birchbark and depicts two pretty roses. This incredibly rare item is certainly one of a kind and therefore difficult to appraise, however it would likely be worth $10-30. Celluloid was another popular material for bookmarks as it’s extreme thinness prevented harm to the pages of books and allowed the owner to print a message or logo. The example above, from Whitehead & Hoag, was probably given away as a promotion, perhaps for Bible memorization.