Hey you guys! Happy Thrift Score Thursday!
You didn’t hear from me earlier this week because I’m still hard at work on a secret project. All will be revealed soon, but until then, I have my hands full finishing DIYs.
I have, however, still been making time for thrift store visits and the shuffling and styling that comes from bringing home new finds. I plopped a recent thrift score down on the dining room table and ended up really loving the vignette.
The distressed orange color of this wooden book stand is definitely outside of my usual color palette, but it intrigued me, so I took a chance and brought it home.
I knew I wanted to use it to display the absolute oldest book I own – a book way too cool to just sit on the shelf!
You see, today I’m sharing the oldest thing I’ve ever found and officially the coolest thing I own…
A vellum-bound volume of one of the works of the theologian Thomas Aquinas, printed in Latin, and published in 1769.
I have no idea what the title is exactly- Google translate even failed me on some of the Latin.
“Divi Thomae Aquinatis, Doctoris Angelici, Ordinis Praedicatorum, Opera, Juxta Editionem Ventam MDCCLV, Ad Plurima Exempla Comparatum. Editio I. Matritensis a quam pluribus mendis repurgata. Accedunt Fr. Joannis Francisci Bernardi Mariae de Rubeis. In sungular Opera Admonitiones Praeviae. Tomus Quartus, completens scriptum in quartum sententiarum labrum.”
But it apparently was published in Madrid 247 years ago.
That’s right: this book is officially older than the United States of America.
When I think about that fact, I just lose it over how crazy it is that I have something in my house that’s older than the freaking Declaration of Independence.
And I found it years ago, along with a whole bunch of other interesting antique books, in a library cart with a sign on the front that said, “Free Books.”
I know.
FREE.
What. The. Heck.
(Oops, sorry – I should probably watch my language around a 247-year-old theological work, right?)
I felt like I was a student at Hogwarts, carting this giant book (that, let’s be honest, kind of looks like it’s bound in human skin) around between classes, but it barely drew any comment. Because apparently I went to school in an alternate universe where libraries really do just stick “FREE” signs on centuries-old books!
(I just helped a friend bring home a matching set of vintage Steelcase shell chairs he got for free from a nearby seminary, so I guess it’s not as far-fetched as it sounds!)
So that’s the crazy and somewhat unlikely story of my oldest and most interesting find and the recent thrifted stand that helped make it a perfect conversation piece!
Thrift Score Thursday Features:
And now for this week’s features from the #thriftscorethursday feed on Instagram! Let’s see what you guys have been finding, shall we?
I love the colors and chunky typeface of these enamel numbers and letters Lauren (@freckled_flowers) found! She’s still seeking the perfect use for them, but I’d say dumping them out and admiring them is a perfectly valid option!
Gretchen (@boxycolonial) is the queen of awesome DIY banners! She crafted this one with twine, clothespins, and vintage flashcards – such a great idea for displaying smaller scraps of ephemera.
via @boxycolonial
I’ve been wanting to find a pair of vintage binoculars or opera glasses for a while – not for any practical reason, they’re just a cool piece of the past I’d love to add to my collection. Kiova (@golddustgoods) struck gold at the Salvation Army with this beautiful mother of pearl find, engraved “Henrietta from Lois, June 5, 1912”!
via @golddustgoods
My love for this needlepoint Melissa (@melissabrandman) found should come as no surprise: you guys know I love embroidery! It has gorgeous colors AND an ornate gold frame with that rope detail – what’s not to adore?
via @melissabrandman
I’m always a fan of the finds Rose (@rosie.case) shares, like this striking modernist glass caterpillar sculpture she literally put on a pedestal. I’m always inspired to explore more modern shapes and finishes after browsing her feed!
via @rosie.case
Finally, I don’t always lean boho, but I do adore it in others homes! Katie (@shop_echo) shared this alpaca rug and leather Moroccan pouf and they are just beautiful with the other colors and textures she has going on in this shot!
via @shop_echo
Thrift Score Thursday Facts:
Are you inspired to hit the streets and hunt down some fabulous thrift finds of your own?
Simply post a picture of any recent thrifty find on Instagram using #thriftscorethursday!
- You can share any thrifty finds with us – whether they hail from a thrift store, Craigslist, estate sale, garage sale, side of the road, or apartment dumpster! The fun, the funny, the awesome, the odd – this hashtag party is open to all!
- Feel free to use #thriftscorethursday any day of the week! We’ll be keeping up with the hashtag all week long to find our favorites for the following Thursday.
- Each week, Cassie from Cassie Bustamante, Corinna from A Designer At Home, Maggie from Maggie Overby Studios and I will pick a few favorite thrift scores to feature! So please understand that by linking up with #thriftscorethursday, you are giving us permission to share your finds via social media or on our blogs.
- Please note that we can only see photos shared by public accounts, so if you have a private Instagram account and we haven’t been showering your finds with love, it’s simply because we aren’t able to see them.
your book stand is so awesome! what a cool and unique find and i also love how it looks on the table!
Thank you so much, Cassie! Orange is way out of my normal color scheme, but hey – it’s perfect for fall, right? 🙂
Brynne my soul sister we just can’t NOT pick the same thrift scores. HaHa, we can never thrift together, there may be a fist fight in the aisles of the thrift store! Love your little book stand such great patina.
The dangers of having friends with similar taste, lol! That’s why I usually go thrifting alone – no immediate competition! 😀
Thanks so much, Brynne–when in doubt, make a banner! Seems to be my motto. Your book and book stand are both so cool!
Your banners are always so fab! I always look forward to seeing the next one you create! 🙂
As a serious book lover, I am having some serious envy over your Aquinas book. I only took two years of Latin, (which was eons ago) so I would not attempt a translation at this point.
I can, however, appreciate the sculptural effect of the book displayed on that incredible stand on your table. You have a fabulous eye for the good stuff, and it is always wonderful to see what you come up with. (P.S. I was very surprised to find out recently that you are so young — you have a great future.)
Thank you so much, Ellen! And thank you for taking the time to leave such an encouraging comment. I sometimes feel very insecure about my age and lack of experience, so it’s so sweet to hear feedback like yours!
That is such an insanely good find. I can’t believe it was free.
Those opera binoculars though. DAYUM!
I can’t either – sometimes I worry that i may have inadvertently participated in a “National Treasure” style artifact heist, lol!