Old Time Wall Papers

If a book has ever been written on this subject it has been impossible to discover; and to get reliable facts for a history of the origin and development of the art of making wall-papers has been a serious task, although the result seems scanty and superficial. Some friends may wonder at the lack of fascinating bits of gossip, stories of rosy romance and somber tragedy in connection with these papers. But those who chatted, danced, flirted, wept or plotted in the old rooms are long since dust, and although the "very walls have ears" they have not the gift of speech. But my collection of photographs is something entirely unique and will increase in value every year. The numerous photographers, to whom I have never appealed in vain, are regarded by me as not only a skillful but a saintly class of men.

I am greatly indebted to Miss Mary M. Brooks of Salem and Miss Mary H. Buckingham of Boston for professional assistance. Many others have most kindly helped me by offers of photographs and interesting facts concerning the papers and their histories. But I am especially indebted to Mrs. Frederick C. Bursch, who has given much of her time to patient research, to the verification or correction of doubtful statements, and has accomplished a difficult task in arranging and describing the photographs. Without her enthusiastic and skillful assistance, my collection and text would have lacked method and finish.

To the many, both acquaintances and strangers, who have volunteered assistance and have encouraged when discouragement was imminent, sending bracing letters and new-old pictures, I can only quote with heartfelt thanks the closing lines of the verse written by Foote, the English actor, to be posted conspicuously to attract an audience to his benefit--

Like a grate full of coals I'll glow A great full house to see; And if I am not grateful, too, A great fool I shall be.

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CONTENTS

I Page

FROM MUD WALLS AND CANVAS TENTS TO DECORATIVE PAPERS 1

II

PROGRESS AND IMPROVEMENT IN THE ART 23

III

EARLIEST WALL PAPERS IN AMERICA 41

IV

WALL PAPERS IN HISTORIC HOMES 61

V

NOTES FROM HERE AND THERE 85

VI

REVIVAL AND RESTORATION OF OLD WALL PAPERS 103

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LIST OF PLATES AND ILLUSTRATIONS

PLATES

Old English Figure paper--in Colors. Plate I

Rural Scenes--Detail in Colors. II

French paper, Watteau Style--Detail in Colors. III

Adventures of a Gallant--Reduction. IV

Adventures of a Gallant--Detail in Colors. V

Racing paper--Timothy Dexter House. VI

The Bayeux Tapestry--Burial of Edward. VII

The Bayeux Tapestry--Harold hearing News. VIII

Oldest English paper--Borden Hall, "A." IX

Borden Hall paper, Design "B." X

Early English Pictorial paper--Chester, Eng. XI

Old Chinese paper, Cultivation of Tea--Dedham, Mass. XII-XIV

Early American fresco--Westwood, Mass. XV-XVIII

Early Stencilled paper--Nantucket, Mass. XIX

A Peep at the Moon--Nantucket, Mass. XX

Hand-colored Figures, repeated--Claremont, N. H. XXI

Nature Scenes, repeated--Salem, Mass. XXII

The Alhambra, repeated--Leicester, Mass. XXIII

Cathedral Views, repeated--Ware, Mass. XXIV

Cathedral Views, repeated on architectural background--Waltham, Mass. XXV

Pictured Ruins, Hall and Stairway--Salem, Mass. XXVI

Birds of Paradise and Peacocks--Waltham, Mass. XXVII

Sacred to Washington--Mourning paper. XXVIII

Dorothy Quincy Wedding paper--Quincy, Mass. XXIX

The Pantheon--King's Tavern, Vernon, Conn. XXX

Canterbury Bells--Wayside Inn, Sudbury, Mass. XXXI

The First Railway Locomotive--Salem, Mass. XXXII

Rural Scene from same room. XXXIII

Pizarro in Peru--Duxbury, Mass. XXXIV-V

Tropical Scenes--Peabody, Mass. XXXVI-VII

On the Bosporus--Montpelier, Vt. XXXVIII-IX

Oriental Scenes--Stockport, N. Y. XL-XLIII