One thing that has eluded me is what exactly the meticulous writing on the image for Greyfields 1879. Typically the image is far too small to make out the text, as seen here:
However, recently when I was poking around an archived copy of last year’s advent calendar, I discovered a much higher resolution version:
In this image, the words are much clearer, to the point where some are legible. It appears that the first line has the word "hedonist" in, and the second and third lines ostensibly say "no-one will be able to __ad it anyway". I believe the partially obscured word is "read", and is referring to the label itself. An in-joke by the artist, no doubt. This is knee-slappingly funny until you realise that joke doesn’t work any more, so it’s actually rubbish. Unfortunately an infuriatingly-placed glass of wine obscures part of the label so its full content will remain a mystery.
Unless, of course, someone already knows what it says and my extremely minor bit of detective work was a massive waste of my, and now your, time.
Maybe the people who made the wine never thought people would actually read what is written on it? I mean, what was the last time you read those labels? edited by The Master on 12/16/2016
Sunless Sea does have higher-res versions of some of the artwork - including, I believe, the Greyfields bottle, without the obstructing glass. Also, the calling card image, which reveals that esteemed detective M. Dupin is alive and well and living in London.
They key of dreams ( http://d39jqyxiuv7ej3.cloudfront.net/icons/keyofdreams.png ) is the painting “La Clef des songes” (The Interpretation of Dreams, but, if translated literally, it is The Key of Thoughts/Dreams) by René Magritte.
Treachery of image, as the picture of horse reads "the door", the clock reads "the wind", the pitcher reads "the bird" and the last one, the valise, is actually correct.
