To Have & To Hold is a collection of paper bag ephemera, compiled over a period of several decades. These once ubiquitous items now provide us with a rare and timely insight, into our relatively recent consumer past. 

Ranging from the early 1900s, to the present day. From the local corner shop, to the high street department store, this is a reflection of a more innocent design era. A time of logotype rather than brand, the Filofax as opposed to the mobile, the fax machine instead of Facebook. When the word ‘virtual’ was not yet a reality. 

In this issue: 

Issue 3 brings up (sorry) the subject of sick bags - those handy receptacles found in airplane seat backs for those with a more delicate disposition. 57 examples from 36 airlines are to be found among these pages, all bearing the logos of the carrier that created them, along with copy that ranges from the practical ('If used, please hand to cabin crew for disposal) to the caring ('In a while you will be fine'), to the humorous ('Unexpected departure?'). 

Steven Silberberg, curator of the Air Sickness Bag Virtual Museum, writes the introduction to this issue. As he notes, airlines no longer print on their motion sickness bags, meaning that these examples represent a dwindling number of decorated and designed bags left in this world. Sickening, isn't it?

Leeds, United Kingdom; 150x210mm; 72 pages