PUBLIC COLLECTORS

Bats, from the Hungarian guide book Kisemlösök (Rodents) published in Budapest in 1985.

Bats, from the Hungarian guide book Kisemlösök (Rodents) published in Budapest in 1985.

This Hungarian guide book, Kisemlösök (Rodents), was published in Budapest in 1985. It’s one of several similar handy illustrated books that I picked up on my recent trip. More exciting drawings of bats to follow (and maybe some rats and squirrels later on?).

An illustration by Otto Mólnar from the paratrooper-focused book Eg Es Föld Között, published in Budapest in 1980. More by Otto Mólnar here.

An illustration by Otto Mólnar from the paratrooper-focused book Eg Es Föld Között, published in Budapest in 1980. More by Otto Mólnar here.

An illustration by Otto Mólnar from the paratrooper-focused book Eg Es Föld Között, published in Budapest in 1980. More by Otto Mólnar here.

An illustration by Otto Mólnar from the paratrooper-focused book Eg Es Föld Között, published in Budapest in 1980. More by Otto Mólnar here.

One of my favorite discoveries during my brief time scouring Budapest’s used bookstores on my recent trip, was a series of old staple-bound books about military technology published in the 1970s and early 1980s. I picked up four of them solely for the beautifully clear and vibrant illustrations and cover art by Otto Mólnar. I’m sure I’ll be posting more of his work later on, but for now I’ll focus on the paratrooper-centered Eg Es Föld Között, published in Budapest in 1980. Special thanks to Paper Dungeon for directing me to great shops; very glad us Tumblr buddies could finally meet up in person too! More by Otto Mólnar here.

A marker drawing of someone wearing a balaclava, spotted on the street in Budapest.

A fan drawing at a memorial to Michael Jackson in a small park in Budapest, Hungary. This article explains that the park is across the street from the hotel that Jackson stayed at three times during visits to Budapest. More posts about this memorial here.

A detail of a memorial to Michael Jackson in a small park in Budapest, Hungary. This article explains that the park is across the street from the hotel that Jackson stayed at three times during visits to Budapest. More posts about this memorial here.

A detail of a memorial to Michael Jackson in a small park in Budapest, Hungary. This article explains that the park is across the street from the hotel that Jackson stayed at three times during visits to Budapest. More posts about this memorial here. 

Michael Jackson fans scare me in their extreme devotion. Two and a half years ago my wife and I were in Budapest and happened upon a memorial to MJ that covered a tree in a small city park. We encountered a woman sitting in front of the tree, looking very sad and listening to Michael Jackson songs on her phone. The date of our visit was shortly after the one year anniversary of his death, but we could not understand why fans chose this location. This article explains that the park is across the street from the hotel that Jackson stayed at three times during visits to Budapest. Okay!

Walking around Budapest today, I was surprised to see that not only does the memorial still exist, but the tree is covered in more stuff than ever. More details of the things fans have left here.

A sign for the Black Panther hair salon in Budapest, Hungary. I’m fairly positive that the hair dressers working there are or were not actually members of the Black Panther Party.

Documentation of shoe store signage in Budapest. I’m fairly certain that the store that went with this old sign no longer exists. Taken earlier this month.