A Paper Coincidence Over 100 Years in the Making

Have you ever experienced a coincidence so random and far fetched that it almost feels like fate caused it to happen? My most recent paper adventure falls into that category.

Here’s how it all went down:

March 21st: I Order a Used Book Online

On March 21, 2019, my cousin, Chantel, and I both ordered a copy of the 1993 book, “On Women and Friendship: A Collection of Victorian Keepsakes and Traditions,” by Starr Ockenga. I hadn’t seen the book before and looked forward to reading it.

March 30th: The Book Arrives

My book was delivered nine days later. Within minutes of opening the package, I sent Chantel a photo letting her know my copy had arrived in the mail.

After getting my message, Chantel visited the post office and found her copy waiting for her. She sent me a photo of her book on the way home.

We received our copies on the same day even though we live 500 miles apart from each other and ordered from different sources.

Later that night, Chantel messaged me again with an unexpected update…

This is where it gets a bit strange

After some reading, Chantel discovered that ephemera featured on the cover of the book was currently on her eBay watchlist.

The eBay listing did not mention the book, but the item matched up right down to the handwriting, words, and painted flowers. How could that be? Was ephemera from “On Women and Friendship” currently for sale?

Chantel sent me photos for comparison:

How is it possible that ephemera from the book was for sale on the same day we got our books in the mail? On top of that, the item was already in Chantel’s watchlist and she happened to recognize it.

A Minor Investigation Ensues

As you know, I specialize in paper-based mysteries and wanted to figure this out. Had the ephemera been faked at some point using the book as a reference?

Chantel and I had recently seen forged Victorian hair mementos, and it left me assuming everything was fake. Therefore, I figured the eBay items had been forged. They could have changed hands multiple times without the current seller knowing their origin.

Needing to know more, I contacted the seller for details about the listings.

It turns out, the seller hadn’t heard of the book before, so I sent them a few photos of the covers for reference.

After seeing my photos, the seller responded with surprise and explained they had purchased the collection together at auction. In addition, they had other items shown in my photos that were not yet listed on eBay.

The Real Deal?

Based on my longer conversation with the seller, their positive seller ratings, photo comparisons, and the fact they produced other items from photos I sent out of the blue, my initial skepticism turned to belief.

These tokens of friendship were likely created and loved sometime in the mid-to-late 1800s, featured in Starr Ockenga’s book in 1993, and were now for sale in 2019.

In a strange turn of events, I purchased three ephemera pieces from the book on the same day I received the book in the mail.

April 5th: The ephemera arrives in the mail

Seeing the pieces in person confirmed their authenticity in my eyes. They look “right”.

While Starr Ockenga’s book highlights pieces from many collections around the country, my assumption is these were part of her personal collection at one point. All items in the book have citations listing where they’re borrowed from unless they came from her own collection. The three pieces shown above are not listed as being from other people.

A coincidence over 100 years in the making

Somehow, my cousin and I got our used books on the same day, spent time messaging all about it, and then found part of the collection for sale online later that night.

Have I created an ephemera vortex that pulls beautiful paper directly to my house? I hope so! Coincidences and mysteries like this are why I love paper as much as I do.

April 14th Update:

After posting this story and mentioning it online today, a fellow paper-loving Instagram friend messaged me saying she saw these items come up at auction on the East Coast. What a small world!

Have you read “On Women and Friendship”? Do you have any other book recommendations for history lovers? Let me know in the comments below :).