Christmas Greetings, Period

Posted on December 28, 2015 by Annieoakley

I find it amusing that the phrase “Christmas Greetings.” was printed with a period at the end – hence the title of this post. This card was printed in Germany and has a coat of arms logo on the back but the publisher name is not known at this time. The front shows a simple design of a nighttime country home in winter, framed by icicles and pine boughs. It’s another from the Ethel Main Collection and addressed to “Tottie” not Lottie – other cards have confirmed Ethel’s nickname. The sender wrote:

“Dear Tottie. A Merry ‘Xmas’ to you all. Blanche & Bert.” Addressed to:

“Miss Ethel Main, No 3622 18th st. San Francisco, Calif.”

The postage stamp is a one cent Balboa, for Vasco Núñez de Balboa, Spanish explorer that crossed the Isthmus of Panama to the Pacific Ocean in 1513. It was issued to promote the upcoming 1915 Panama Pacific Exposition, and one of a set that payed tribute to the opening of the Panama Canal, which would not take place until August 15, 1914. In mint condition, an online source indicates this stamp would be worth about $23.00.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 23, 1913 from Santa Cruz, California. Printed in Germany.

Price: $4.00

Source: Vasco Núñez de Balboa. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vasco_N%C3%BA%C3%B1ez_de_Balboa (accessed December 28, 2015).

And Down Life’s Stream

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Annieoakley

“And down Life’s Stream he begged to steer

The lovely freight to him so dear.”

Addressed to: “Mrs. B. F. Main, 233 14th St., San Francisco, Cal.” And the sender wrote:

“Dear Grandma – Hope you arrived safely. My love-sick uncle forgot his vest so we sent it by mail to-day. It’s very warm here. Grandma & Mama’s cousin and Aunt and Minnie[?] were out yesterday. Write and let us know if Bennie got his vest. H.[?] M.”

This will be a good one for helping track which branch of the Main family the Ethel Main Collection belongs to, since we have a name and relationship in the message. The front of the card is appropriate isn’t it, regarding the sender’s love-sick uncle Bennie. (The actual postcard is even nicer to view, as the gold border, highlights on the young woman’s blouse and belt, and the verse at the bottom come to light when viewed at an angle.)

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked from Santa Clara, California on September 14, 1909. Publisher: Julius Bien & Co., New York. “Canoe” Series number: 201 – (3).

Price: $5.00

To Tottie From Lucy

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Annieoakley

“Friendship’s Offering”

Here’s the third in a little mini-series in the Ethel Main Collection. This one shows that her nickname was “Tottie” rather than “Lottie” as one might think from the handwriting on some of the others. Since there is more than one Ethel Main, and preliminary forays into this possible branch of the Main Family have shown that research time will be lengthy, we’ll save that part for later, after the rest get posted. The card is addressed to:

“Miss Ethel Main, 299 Sunol St., San Jose, Calif.” And the sender wrote:

“Dear Tottie. Just a few lines have you got to busy again to write if so stoped for a minut and think of me. hope to see you by the last of the month some time. With Love, Lucy.”

Divided back, embossed postcard. Postmarked 1910 from California. Publisher unknown. “Flower Series.”

Price: $4.00

Greetings From Occidental, California

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Annieoakley

The meaning of the word occidental is “Western” as opposed to oriental meaning “Eastern.” (Never knew that.) Occidental is a small town in Sonoma County, California, that was founded in 1876 as a railway stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad, connecting Cazadero to the Sausalito ferry. Occidental was originally called Howard’s Station, after local landowner and Danish immigrant, “Dutch Bill” Howard (real name Christopher Thornassen Folkmann), who granted the railway access from his land. Present day online browsing shows a lovely spot that we naturally now want to visit, in the wine country of Sonoma County, nestled in the Redwoods, near the Russian River…beautiful B & Bs…

But this card, with an illustration of pink and red carnations, is another in the Ethel Main Collection. Addressed this time to: “Miss Ethel Main, 3622 – 18th Street, San Francisco, Cal.” And the sender wrote:

“Dear Cousin, I received your kind & welcome letter. Hope[?] I wont go down on Saturday the 8. will write you a letter in a few days. your Cousin Cordelia.”

Cordelia’s writing is a slightly hard to read but there is at least an easy way to verify part of the message: The 1912 calendar for June, shows that June 8th was indeed a Saturday; this card bearing the postmarked date of June 6.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Publisher unknown, possibly printed in Germany. Series or number 4. Postmarked June 6, 1912 from San Francisco, California.

Price: $5.00

Source: Occidental. n.d https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Occidental,_California. (accessed July 2, 2015).

Howard Station Cafe. http://www.howardstationcafe.com/#!ourstory/csgz. (accessed July 2, 2015).

1910 Calendar Postcard

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Annieoakley

This one (from the Ethel Main Collection) may seem a little out of place: It would normally go up in December, per the little calendar at the bottom (with Christmas wreath?) but then again the lovely oval image above it shows a summery, old roses and cottage scene, so that fits in with our present month of June. The calendar turns page by page and is not missing any months. We picture this postcard hanging on someone’s wall 105 years ago, though perhaps it was saved in a desk drawer or scrap book, instead. After all, it would seem very tempting to tear away each month as it went by.

The sender wrote:

“Dear Grandma – Laura wants to know how much goods it takes for a skirt and I want to know how to make scones[?] We are having lovely weather. I just took a walk. Hazel.”

Addressed to: “Mrs. B. F. Main, 253 – 14th St., San Francisco.”

(This branch of the Main family, as found in the collection, will be sorted out a little later, when we can take plenty of time to work on how everyone fits together.)

Divided back postcard, used with writing. Includes mini 1910 calendar. Publisher unknown. Circa 1909 – 1910.

Price: $15.00

Hand-Painted Rose

Posted on February 2, 2015 by Annieoakley

Divided back, hand-painted, used postcard. Postmarked April 21, 1911 from San Jose, California. Printed in Germany.

Price: $1.00

“May loves rarest dearest treasures

Fill life with o’erflowing pleasures,

And this greeting true and tender

Oft remind thee of the sender.”

– W.H.S.

“April 21 – 1911. Dear Ethel. I received your letter. Will write a letter someday when I have time. I hope you are all well. and that Bill is all right again. Larry[?] didn’t go home to day. Will go to morrow. You can come down when ever you want to. Will be glad to see you. May and Alice are well. She walks all over now. Mrs. McGrath – love to all.”

Addressed to: “Miss Ethel Main, 253 14th st., San Francisco, Calif.”

This Birthday Wishes postcard is much the worse for wear, but it must have really been nice when brand new. The pink is very bright. From scrutinizing the card, that appears to be dirt rather than mold; there is no mustiness, but it’s still kept separate from all the others, just in case. This is part of The Ethel Main Collection, which we haven’t researched yet, but will later. The verse is lovely, but wasn’t found online. So, the identity of the poet W.H.S. is a mystery.

To Ethel From Annie

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Annieoakley

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 31, 1908 from San Francisco, California. Printed in Germany. Publisher unknown.

Price: $5.00

“A Happy New Year” is the caption on this 1908 postcard printed in Germany. It shows a pink rose and green leaves above a pineapple-shaped outline (for a vase perhaps) and a burgundy background fading to a lighter color at the bottom. It’s another in the Ethel Main Collection. The sender writes, “Dear Ethel – Wishes for a Happy and prosperous New Year from Annie.” The card is addressed to: “Miss Ethel Main, 2319 Folsom St., City.” We know “City” in this case refers to San Francisco, since this appears on the postmark.

Pretty Soon I Owe You A Letter

Posted on October 26, 2014 by Annieoakley

“Pretty soon

I owe you a letter,

I must confess;

Will write

In a week

Or may be

In less.”

The sender wrote: “Dear Lottie, Youre out of luck were going to Camp Taylor. Henry and Clara were over last night. They’re going home Sunday. Frank”

Addressed to: “Miss Ethel Main, 522 Orchard St., San Jose Cal.”

I don’t know why, but I’m always surprised by the seemingly endless amount of different lettering styles that show up on old postcards, miscellaneous cards, and the like. Delighted though, to be sure. This one is no exception. Love the way the “o’s” overlap in “soon”, the rounded “w”, the dots added between the words, and the “n”, although the “n” in “confess” is different. I guess the ink got filled in on that one by mistake. Anyway, this is an Art Nouveau style card, as you can see by the flow-y lines of the few sprays of flowers and leaves, (timely for fall colors right now) and is also unmistakably Art Nouveau in the beautiful postcard header on the back of the card.

This is the first in a collection of postcards that are addressed to Ethel Main. Camp Taylor that is mentioned in the message to “Lottie” (or is that Lettie?) is today Samuel P. Taylor State Park, located in Marin County, about 30 miles northwest of San Francisco. Samuel Penfield Taylor, was a successful gold rush ’49er, who purchased 100 acres along Lagunitas Creek for the whopping 😉 price of $505.00 in 1855. Imagine paying $5.00 an acre today! On this land, Taylor set up the first paper mill on the West Coast. The full history of the park is really interesting. Check it out here: Samuel P. Taylor State Park.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked May 18, 1915 from San Francisco, California. Publisher unknown.

Price: $15.00

Source: Samuel P. Taylor State Park. Marin Conservation League. Web accessed October 26, 2014.

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Category Archives: The Ethel Main Collection

Christmas Greetings, Period

And Down Life’s Stream

To Tottie From Lucy

Greetings From Occidental, California

1910 Calendar Postcard

Hand-Painted Rose

To Ethel From Annie

Pretty Soon I Owe You A Letter