Field Trip: Conde Nast Library

Field trip: House and Garden, volumes from 1904 to 19teens, Condé Nast Library. 1904 to 1906 contains stories on designs for the Manhattan Bridge and a new entrance to Central Park at 59th street. Also an article on estimating home improvement costs (the merits of a $48/dozen box of lighting globes versus an already shocking $12), retiring to a farm, living in the city on less $15 a week (author couldn’t find a job for more than $9 and chose to go back to the farm). Also lovely pictures of English and Italian public gardens and a piece on “the old garden bookshelf” reviewing guides from the 17th and 18th century (Milton, Walpole). Except for a few woodcut prints and art nouveau details, most of the ads would be at home in today’s yellow pages. I looked at old Vogues, too.