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Bitter Green

Perfume

In 1914, Henri Rigaud launched “Un Air Embaumé” (Perfumed Breezes), a floral, Oriental fragrance for women. According to Cleopatra’s Boudoir, “It was created by Marius Reboul of Givaudan who used a base known as ‘Sophora,’ a Givaudan base of vetiver acetate, coumarin and bergamot. The perfume has a bitter green beginning with galbanum and pungent bergamot, which reveals a floral heart of heliotrope which is reminiscent of powdered almonds. A fiery entrance of piquant carnation and balsamic notes of benzoin and creamy facets of vanilla help round out the persistent sweet note. The rich, animalic fusion of warm ambergris and musk is accented with dusty orris layered over an earthy, dry, wooded base of vetiver, patchouli, sandalwood and cedar.”

Wow. After a long run, the perfume was discontinued in 1967.

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L’Aventure de Ted Bopp, 1930

Marc 1

Uncredited illustrations from a 1930 mystery/adventure tale in French, L’Aventure de Ted Bopp by Marc Ceppi, published by D.C. Heath & Co., for American students of French. The introduction notes of the author, “He has the rare gift of inventing interesting themes and developing them in simple language which moves forward jauntily to a dramatic climax.”

Marc 2 Marc 3 Marc 4 Marc 5 Marc 6 Marc 7

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Mail Slot, Vatican City

Mail Slot Vatican

The mail slot for the Tipografia Poliglotta Vaticana (Vatican Polyglot Press) in Vatican City. Photo by Curtis G. Pepper, 1966, in The Pope’s Back Yard. A Vatican press was first established by Pope Sixtus V in 1587 for the printing of the Vulgate, the writings of the Fathers, and other Vatican publications. The Vatican Polyglot Press became the Vatican Press in 1991. It prints acts of the Pope and official documents of Holy See dicasteries (departments of the Roman Curia) as well as art publications for the Vatican Museums and the Vatican Apostolic Library. A special section publishes the Holy See’s newspaper.