Page 16 - 0119

Page 16 The Antique Shoppe January, 2019
Literary CLassiC—

LOUISA MAY ALCOTT’S LITTLE WOMEN

by Roy Nuhn

ittle Women, the first and best of many novels postcards, mainly black and whites of old photographs,
Lby Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888), has long picture her.
been an American classic. As such it has inspired Perhaps the best of all postcards is a set of black
many collectibles, including paper dolls, books of and white scenes from the play. These advertised the
every imaginable type, film memorabilia, and souvenir show’s run at Boston’s Majestic Theatre. The cards
postcards. probably date to
A feminist tale set in Concord, Massachusetts, during the 1930s, since
and immediately after the civil War, it is a story of deep the first theatrical
family loyalty and love, as well as the rite of passage performance of Little
and coming of age of the four March sisters - Meg, Jo, Women took place
Beth and Amy. sometime between
Strongly autobiographical, Little Women, written 1928 and 1932
in 1868, was for over a century “THE BOOK” for all young girls. in Detroit. Stage great Katherine
Continuously in print ever since its first publication, its sequel was Cornell appeared as Meg in the
Little Men. Alcott is ranked London performance. The play
among the greats of American soon became part of many stock
literature and her home, Orchard companies’ repertoires.
House, where she did all of her From about 1900, postcards of
writing, is an historical landmark. Louisa May Alcott and her home
The story inspired four motion can be found from every decade.
pictures - in 1919, 1933, 1949, Most were intended for sale at
1994 and a made-for-TV movie Orchard House or in the town of
in 1978. The book was adapted Concord and its surrounding area to
into a play and performed by tourists.
touring companies and local Important publishers of the pre-
stock companies in hundreds of 1918 era include New England
small, medium and large cities Paper & Stationery Co. of Ayer,
and towns in the country during Massachusetts; The Rotograph
the early decades of the 20th Co., New York City, among whose
century. output was a black and white view
Little Women dolls have always of Fruitlands, the Alcotts’ earlier
been popular. Famed dollmaker home in Harvard, Massachusetts;
Madame Alexander produced a and the local firm or individual,
line based on the four young girls Mrs. G.N. Tanner.
from 1947 to 1956. Today, these During the 1920s, important
bring prices of several hundred dollars each in auction. publishers were Tichnor Bros. and
Film memorabilia from all the theatrical releases include one-sheet United Art Co. One particular post
posters, lobby cards, black-and-white stills, and press card set, “The Alcott House,” deserves special
books. Also, to be found are magazine advertisements, mention. Published and sold in the 1920s or 1930s,
especially for the 1933 superhit, and film reviews in presumably by the association maintaining Orchard
fandom publications. House, it consists of six black and white scenes.
The 1933 cinema release which starred Katherine Some captions from this set: “Taken about the time
Hepburn was the basis for one of the first ‘Little Women’ lived there,” “Mr. Alcott in the
entertainment theme paper doll booklets. Drawn by Library,” and “A. Bronson Alcott and one of the
Rachel Taft Dixon, Whitman Co. (Racine, Wisconsin) ‘Little Men’.”
published it in 1934 as their number 994. Four years The years between 1946 to the early 1950s
later, Samuel Lowe Co. sold a “Little Women” booklet were a time of some interesting black-and-white
based not on the movie, but the actual novel. In 1937, photographic views. Notable, for instance, is a set of
Wee Wisdom, a leading children’s publication of the interiors and exteriors by Eagle Post Card View, New
era, ran a series of paper doll pages taken from the York.
original story. The timeless tale of Little Women has thrilled
Many postcards depicted Orchard House, Alcott’s countless generations of readers. Its memorabilia
home. Some have an inset of the author, notably have excited an equal number of collectors.
the linen style cards of the 1930s and ‘40s. A few