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Up for sale is a wonderfully rare, highly collectible pair of mid-century New England travel ephemera. This lot features a complete, consecutive matching set of two (2) vintage Skowhegan, Maine \"Guest Guide\" tourist directories dating exactly from 1960 and 1961.
Measuring approximately 4 by 6 inches, these pocket-sized booklets perfectly capture the civic pride and mid-century tourism landscape of central Somerset County along the Kennebec River. Both guides carry the town\'s legendary historical motto, \"A place to watch\"—a clever play on the traditional Abenaki name for the region meaning \"a place to watch for fish.\"
- The 1960 Guide features a cream-colored cover with a blue stylized mid-century typography accent and a small illustration of an indigenous chief profile.
- The 1961 Guide features a bold red-and-yellow horizontal striped cover showcasing the detailed round seal of the town (\"Incorporated 1823\").
The interiors are packed with localized period history, including vintage business advertisements, maps, lists of local camps, churches, manufacturing facilities, and dining hotspots from the dawn of the 1960s.
Condition Report:
Both vintage booklets are in good, fully complete condition given their 65-year age. The staples remain secure, and the inner pages are crisp and fully legible. The covers show expected light, authentic age-appropriate surface wear, minor edge handling, and a faint natural patina from decades of careful storage. There are no heavy missing chunks or major fluid stains altering the graphics.
Please carefully review all provided photographs to assess the exact condition of this fantastic regional pair. A magnificent addition to any collection of Maine historical ephemera, Skowhegan town memorabilia, or vintage mid-century American travel brochures!
