Young Man’s Dream, Circa 1910

Posted on July 1, 2017 by Annieoakley

Two pals in Newsboy caps, skinny tie, bow tie and sweaters

Our guy from the top left, looking distinguished and contemplative, with pipe

Divided back, Real Photo Postcards, unused. Cyko stamp box. Circa 1910.

Price for the set of two: $35.00

I had just spent a ridiculous amount of time comparing these two images to see how they were done. 🙂 Looks like the charming lake scene of an attractive young woman on a lake, with a partial border of lilies (very Art Nouveau) is the same size on both cards, one being just the reverse of the other. The shaped border, however, is slightly larger on the second postcard, so that part must have involved a separate process, then, of course, arranging the trimmed photos in the border would be next….but why dissect? The end result is beautiful and unusual, and possibly two-of-a-kind.

One can’t help but look for an artist name though, and in so doing might imagine seeing a signature (John something) in the shadow of the oar (top image) but a name glimmering on the water, so to speak, could just be coincidence.

As for time-frame, I’m guessing late 1900s to mid-1910s, in looking for men’s narrow necktie style, women wearing neckties, Art Nouveau, etc. There do not seem to be many examples of women in neckties in the 1900s – 1910s, and that was surprising. But here’s one below in the bottom right corner from a Google search for the popular British actress, Madge Crichton:

Mostly Madge

A 1910 advertisement from The Marion Star:

Sources: Art Nouveau. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Art_Nouveau (accessed July 1, 2017).

“Images for old postcards Madge Crichton.” Google search, July 1, 2017. Google.com.

Marx Bros. & Hess collar and necktie ad. The Marion Star, (Marion, OH) May 14, 1910. Saturday, p. 7. (Newspapers.com)

Houseboat Heaven

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Annieoakley

Vintage photo, circa 1920s – 1930s.

Price: $6.00 Size: 4 and 1/4 x 2 and 5/8″

Three ladies

I love houseboats: There is something so romantic about them (riverboats, too.) So “houseboat heaven” came to mind immediately upon finding the photo, and the term stuck (and never got unstuck, lol. That’s redundant but, no matter.) But I realize, as I’m posting this, that the watercraft in question could be something other than the type involved in my (just now identified) longing to set up house on the water or meander down a river in rustic comfort. Rather than houseboat, the vessel could be a small ferry….In any case, the image shows a woman posed, relaxing on an inside railing, smiling for the camera. On our left we see a partial view of the woman’s friend, in flounced dress, her hand on one of the thin uprights. You get the feeling she’s chatting with someone outside of the picture. Both ladies are elegantly dressed. And the vessel….is charming: nothing too fancy, wooden, with her “house” portion curving around, and a shallow, covered deck off of the house, as part of the bigger deck surface as a whole. Note the nice scroll work above the door and the scalloped roof edging….All-in-all, a beautifully captured moment, from a casually elegant or elegantly casual 😉 evening spent on the water, with good friends. (That includes the boat!)

Sea Gull – A Boat

Posted on June 13, 2017 by Annieoakley

Divided Back, Real Photo Postcard, unused. Circa 1907 – 1918.

Price: $6.00

Per Playle’s (a great reference for dating RPPCs, thus we use it all the time) this particular style of AZO stamp box, with all four triangles pointing up, is dated at 1904 – 1918, however, since it’s a divided back card, it would need to be December 1907 at the earliest. The type of watercraft is, for me, non-boat expert that I am, in question. Houseboat…?…. maybe, maybe not. In any case, we see her name on the bow, “Sea Gull.” And there’s the vague image of the skipper at the helm, standing, facing the sun. Amidships (can this term be used for small craft?) we see the silhouette of a seated man in a hat. On shore, in the background are some buildings and a large stand of evergreens.

Source: “Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes. A – B.” playle.com. (accessed June 13, 2017).

Hotel Delos, Mykonos, Greece, 1950s

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Annieoakley

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard. Publisher: Leonar. Circa 1950s – 1960s.

Price: $10.00 Size: 5 and 7/8 x 4″

Boats and waterfront scene on Mykonos (Horus) Cyclades Islands, Greece

The cars in this photo are possibly late 1950s, at least the one might be…if it’s a 1957 Plymouth (the one with the “fin” on the quarter panel – quarter panel being in the rear as opposed to fender which is the term used for the front – this info from my mechanic hubby.) But was much time spent looking at various cars to try to narrow down the era? No. And no time was spent trying to identify the watercraft (from experience this can be a very time-consuming endeavor.) In any case, our best guess is late ’50s early ’60s.

As far as the most identifiable business in the photo, that of the Hotel Delos, I believe the location must have changed at some point, as a current aerial photo found online shows no buildings to the left of the hotel, and a “stock photo” found of the building no longer shows the hotel’s name on the front. The cropped version below, gives us a better look at the two cars to our right, and the hotel on our left:

Source: Mykonos. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mykonos (accessed April 04/02/17).

A Heavy Sea

Posted on November 19, 2016 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard, unused with writing. “A Heavy Sea.” Circa 1914. Photo Roto, Inc. stamp box. Photographer: unknown.

Price: $10.00

If the postcard image above was doctored somewhat before production, it would not have been unusual. (Would the smokestack stripes of the ship on our left be this clear from a distance?) On the reverse is written, “From Back U.S.S. Wyoming.” In checking online for same or similar postcards, we found one at Card Cow (among other sites) of a slightly different view of the sea and ships and titled “A Heavy Sea-Way” copyrighted by N. Moser, N.Y. On the back of that card is written “USS Vermont.” So, there’s no guarantee, but a chance that we’re looking at the U.S.S. Vermont from the deck of the U.S.S. Wyoming and from further research, the original photo may have been captured during the storm that damaged Vermont in December 1913.

A slightly earlier around-the-world detour…..

If our postcard photo’s vantage point from on board Wyoming is correct, then the photo would not have been taken during the around-the-world voyage of the Great White Fleet, as Wyoming wasn’t on that tour. Plus, per Playle’s, the stamp box on our card is circa 1910 – 1917. But if you’ve never heard of said fleet, check it out! Imagine, even knowing in advance that they were on their way to your area (there must have been a lot of hoopla)……you round a bend and get your first glance at the ocean and there, like some kind of magic conjuring trick…the impressive line of sixteen U.S. battleships with hulls painted white!

Getting back to the possible time-frame of our postcard…..

Public attention was caught by the report of heavy seas partially damaging the U.S.S. Vermont in December 1913 as she and other ships in the Atlantic Fleet, including Wyoming, were voyaging homeward.

Seeing triple….

The image below of Vermont’s battle with the elements, became well-known in its day, and was published in at least two magazines (The Outlook and Popular Mechanics) as well as being made into a Real Photo Postcard. The RPPC appearing online (various sites) shows copyright N. Moser. And Moser could have been the sailor that took the photo, or not. (Maybe his descendants have proof either way somewhere. We’ll put up a post for him next.) Anyway, you can see how the images below slightly vary, and one source (first example below) calls it a painting done from a photo. But maybe it was just that the publication and altering of the photo rendered something that looks more painting than photo-like.

Above, described as a painting from a black and white photo (courtesy Naval History and Heritage Command.)

Above, from Popular Mechanics magazine, March 1914, Page 372 (courtesy Wikimedia Commons).

Above, as appearing in the New York publication The Outlook on 10 January 1914. (courtesy Wikimedia Commons).

U.S.S. Vermont (BB-20) in calmer water (courtesy Wikipedia).

Sources: USS Wyoming (BB-32). n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Wyoming_(BB-32) (accessed November 16, 2016).

U.S. Military: Great White Fleet (Atlantic Fleet bound for the Pacific, 16 December 1907) http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=5542. (accessed November 19, 2016).

Great White Fleet. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_White_Fleet. (accessed November 16, 2016).

Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes (P-Q). Playle.com. (accessed November 19, 2016).

USS Vermont (BB-20). n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Vermont_(BB-20) (accessed November 16, 2016).

“NH 60506 USS VERMONT (BB-20) – Painting of a ship In a storm.” Naval History and Heritage Command. (accessed November 19, 2016).

File: USS Vermont (BB-20) Returning home from Med Cruise 1913.JPG. n.d. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:USS_Vermont_(BB-20)_Returning_home_from_Med_Cruise_1913.JPG. (accessed November 19, 2016).

Havana Cuba, Street Scene 1920s

Posted on September 18, 2016 by Annieoakley

Photo circa 1920s. Street scene, Havana, Cuba.

Availability status: SOLD Size: 3 and 1/4 x 4 and 3/8″

The street name is unknown, but this is a wonderful glimpse back in time, circa 1920s Havana. Note the cobblestone street, streetcar, the rear-view of the smaller vehicle of the rubber-tired variety 😉 the beautiful wrought iron railings, the very tall double doors on the corner building on our left, and the people going about their day. Funny that everyone in the photo, except for those appearing in the extreme background, are facing us. Check out the guy partially in our view on the far right. He’s easy to miss!

Spanish-born hat maker, Evaristo Tanda

We’re not seeing Havana city directories for this time-period online at present, though maybe someone will post a comment which will help pinpoint the street, but in any case, the most prominent business sign in the photo shows: “Evaristo Tanda – Fabricante de Gorras” translating as “Evaristo Tanda – Manufacturer of Caps.” Evaristo was born in Spain about 1885. He appears on several ship passenger lists; the 1915 and 1917 record that he was single, occupation Merchant, and reveal that he had cousins, Angel and Francisco Puentes, in Matanzas, Cuba (could be city or province) the city being located on the northern coast of Cuba (about an hour and a half east from Havana, in present-day drive time.)

Below, partial view of the 1915 ship passenger list for S.S. Saratoga, en route from Cuba to New York, showing Evaristo Tanda’s last permanent residence as Havana, and nearest relative, cousin Angel Puentes:

An earlier S.S. Morro Castle

The 1917 passenger list for Evaristo Tanda and others, records their arrival from Cuba to New York, on Morro Castle. Research shows this was likely the passenger steamer built October 1900, original owner NY & Cuba Mail, which was scrapped in 1926, definitely not to be confused with the ship whose name became well-known (at least at that time) after the terrible 1934 Morro Castle tragedy, in which that vessel was destroyed by fire under mysterious circumstances which resulted in the loss of 137 members (accounts vary) of passenger and crew.

Below, Evaristo Tanda’s 1917 arrival in New York from Cuba on the earlier steamer Morro Castle:

Above, believed to the ship named on the 1917 record, the 6,004 ton passenger steamer Morro Castle (1900 – 1926) original owner N.Y. & Cuba Mail. (Photo courtesy Library of Congress.)

Below, Evaristo’s arrival in Key West, Florida on steamer Cuba in 1925.

Sources: Year: 1915; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 2423; Line: 10; Page Number: 109. Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.

Year: 1917; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: T715, 1897-1957; Microfilm Roll: Roll 2512; Line: 5; Page Number: 131. Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957.

SS Moro Castle (1930) n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Morro_Castle_(1930). (accessed September 18, 2016).

Cramp Shipbuilding, Philadelphia PA. September 3, 2014, updated. http://www.shipbuildinghistory.com/history/shipyards/2large/inactive/cramp.htm. shipbuildinghistory.com. (accessed September 18, 2016).

S.S. Morro Castle, Cramps Shipyards, Philadelphia. Detroit Publishing Company Photograph Collection. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. (accessed September 18, 2016).

The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Series Title: Alien Passenger List of Vessels Arriving at Key West, Florida; NAI Number: 2790468; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 – 2004; Record Group Number: 85. (Ancestry.com. Florida, Passenger Lists, 1898-1963.)

“A deer they found in ‘balking’ ”

Posted on July 17, 2016 by Annieoakley

Vintage photo of swimming deer and seven men on a cruiser boat. Circa 1940s.

Price: $5.00 Size: 4 and 1/4 x 3 and 1/4″

Here we go again with trying to figure out the date of a photo (and possible place) by the vehicle: In this case the vehicle is a cruiser or yacht! Nothing found yet, so more research needs to be done. You can almost make out the name on the life preserver, but not quite. I thought it was maybe “Janeeva” at first, then looked a couple of days later, thinking, “Where did I get Janeeva from?” Looks like it might start with “A.” (An interesting phenomenom, this change in perception!) Then there’s the other mystery: Where in the world is “balking” ? Since it was put in parentheses by whoever wrote the note on the back, it seems to not be an actual place name. This makes sense, since Balking is not showing up online. Or did they mean, “A deer they found when ‘balking’ ” ? (whatever that might mean!) But last, which should be first….the deer! What an unexpected sight this must of have been! If he’d been in line with the front of the boat, it would have looked like he was towing it 😉 And unbeknownst to many (like me up till now) deer are good swimmers!

The Original Water-Wagon

Posted on April 1, 2016 by Annieoakley

Undivided back, used postcard. Postmarked April 1, 1909, from Santa Rosa, California. Publisher: A.T. F. Co.

Price: $8.00

This is the first in a collection from Miss Lily Rea. Her address at this time is Box 23, Gilroy, California. We’ll get more detailed in later posts, but for now, this one is up due to it being April Fool’s Day. Lily’s friend, Hazel writes:

“April Fool. Ha! Ha. Apr. 1. 09. Recieved your card glad to know you are well. Hope to see a picture of you soon. I recieved a card from George Wells to day. Who showed you the picture of L & I. Sure all my friends are nice looking & he is a swell kid too. I hope you can meet him some day. Ans. soon Hazel. Regards to Rocky.

The card’s design, Noah’s Ark on Mount Ararat, (an elephant and giraffe survey the receding flood) and the caption, “The Original Water-Wagon,” got me wondering why this card was so current to the times. Here’s a screen shot of a Google search “water wagon images in the early 1900s” showing some great old photos and some comic cards:

And see Origin of the idiom ‘falling off the wagon’ from StackExchange for the origin of being on and off the wagon.

Sources: “Water wagon images in the early 1900s” Google image search. (Accessed April 1, 2016.)

“Origin of the idiom ‘falling off the wagon’.” StackExchange.com. (Accessed April 1, 2016.)

Budleigh Salterton, East Devon, England

Posted on September 26, 2015 by Annieoakley

“Dear Ellie. Thought I had better let you know that I am not going to the theatre. Hope you will enjoy your little gift. Best love, Janey[?]”

Addressed to: “Miss E. Potts, 6 Cholmley St., Hull.”

Circa 1902 – 1910

The postmarked year is partially missing on this one. It was sent from Hull, England in February, and true, we see the number 6 there but was that part of the year or the date in the month of Feb? The stamp is a Great Britain 1/2d (halfpenny) King Edward VII; first issued January 1, 1902 in a blue-green color; the yellow-green was first issued November 26, 1904. Since Edward VII died May 6, 1910, the era for this stamp’s issuance is given as 1902 – 1910. (In comparing this stamp’s color to those showing online, I’m undecided as to whether this is the blue-green or yellow-green; it almost looks like a faded version of the blue-green.)

Yes or No

As for the addressee, Ellie Potts, there are several possibilities under Ellie and Eleanor, an exact match with the above address not being found. And the unknown publisher’s “Yes or No” series (great name) fits the sender’s message: No, she is not going to the theater.

Pebbles and Fossils

About the front image: This beach is famous for the Budleigh Salterton Pebble Beds. What’s a pebble exactly? Well, I thought I knew what a pebble was, but it is defined as, “…a clast of rock with a particle size of 2 to 64 millimetres based on the Krumbein phi scale of sedimentology.” Larger than a granule and smaller than a cobble. (Heehee, if this helps you.) And fossils in the form of shells can be found inside many of the pebbles on this beach. It’s allowable to split the pebbles open, but illegal to take them with you. Just take a photo and leave for others to look at. See UK Fossils for more detailed information.

About a century

The photo below from the website Coastal Connect shows a similar view to the one on our postcard….about one hundred years later.

Divided back, Great Britain, used postcard. Circa 1902 – 1910. Postmarked from Hull, England in February, year unreadable. Publisher info: “Yes or No” Series.

Price: $15.00

Sources: Stamps on postcards – A guide to dating cards. 1902 – 1910 King Edward VII. http://sunnyfield.co.uk/dayspast/stamps_on_postcards.php. Web accessed September 22, 2015.

Pebble. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pebble. (web accessed September 26, 2015).

Budleigh Salterton fossils and fossil collecting. http://www.budleigh.ukfossils.co.uk/. Web accessed September 22, 2015.

Photo, Budleigh Salterton Beach. Coastal Connect.http://www.coastalconnect.co.uk/Budleigh-Salterton.html. Web accessed September 26, 2015.

River View, Menominee, Michigan

Posted on May 6, 2015 by Annieoakley

Undivided back, used postcard. Postmarked from Menominee, Michigan on August 1, 1906. Incoming postmark at Fort Sheridan, Illinois on August 2, 1906. Publisher: The Rotograph Co., New York City, NY. Series or number: A52588. Made in Germany.

Availability Status: SOLD

“River View, Menominee, Mich.”

“Dear Mrs. Henning: – We are having a very pleasant vacation. I am very glad you find your new home so pleasant. Miss Wilkins[?]” Addressed to:

“Mrs. O. Henning, Ft. Sheridan, Ill.”

The city of Menominee is located at the southernmost tip of the Upper Peninsula, on the shores of Green Bay of Lake Michigan, and the banks of the Menominee River, which makes up part of the Michigan-Wisconsin border. This postcard is the last one in the Dr. Oswald Henning Collection, but we hope to come across more.

Laurel Cottage Genealogy

Genealogy Services, Old Photos, Postcards, Trade Cards, Etc.

Category Archives: Boats and Ships