BE GOOD TO YOURSELF – Circa WWI Vollard, hand painted

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF

You’ve a friend you have sorely neglected,
The very best friend you possess;
He’s the one who is always expected
To shoulder your load of distress.
You have always been good to the others,
You have made of these strangers your brother – Be good to yourself for awhile.

From the Writings of Wilbur D. Nesbit Published by R.P. Volland Co., Chicago, 1918.

BE GOOD TO YOURSELF was published and copyrighted in 1918 by The Volland Co., one of the finer publishing houses of the times. Note the company’s logo left of the encircled floral design. The motto was printed on a parchment-like paper whose design is handpainted in watercolor over delicately printed black lines. Note the Volland Company’s logo

In the early years, circa WWI before publishing companies developed their trademark styles, the finer publishers painted their motto images with watercolor washes and opaque gold ink. By the 1920s mottos increased in size to as large as 13 x 17″, and were now printed lithographs. Few were handpainted. Note the detailed imagery and the painstaking attention given to BE GOOD TO YOURSELF.

While not rare, early mottos are not easily found, especially in the condition as BE GOOD TO YOURSELF is.

Dimensions: 5 1/2” x 6 3/4”