I Can’t Tell Why But I Do

Posted on February 14, 2016 by Annieoakley

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Here’s a postcard by the mysterious publisher D. Hillson, who did quite a number of cards, but who’s identity appears to be unknown. He was not found in city directories, Google Books, Newspapers.com, etc. This heart shaped design with couple kissing is one of a series of at least three (we see two others online at the moment.) But this is a funny one for the wording – murmured phrases by a couple in love:

“I can’t tell why but I do – do somthing doing all the time, you are my own arn’t you dearie. Put the lights out.”

Addressed to: “Miss Myrtle Miller, Dunkirk, Ind.” And the sender wrote something also a little mysterious:

“A.L. won’t say a word. It’s all O.K. though Sat. Night. H.”

Divided Back, used postcard. Postmarked November 20, 1908 from Dunkirk, Indiana.

Price: $7.00

Happy Be Thy Birthday

Posted on February 6, 2016 by Annieoakley

“The wish of thy friend is

Happy be thy Birthday”

Per musings from the prior post, here’s another card with the often seen stone bridge. A simple design in a fancy frame: a winter scene with red bridge over a stream and a red house that’s supposed to be further in the background. One of the Lena Davis collection, and the sender wrote:

“Oct. 4, 1912. Dear Cousin. Many happy birthday greetings from Mr. and Mrs. C. Haney[?]”

Addressed to: “Miss Lena Davis. Almena, Kans. R. F. D. #3”

And what almost went unnoticed was the publisher info which barely appears from under the postage stamp, indicating Copyright E. Nash.

Last but not least, this same design with a different message shows up on another card in the same collection.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked October 5, 1912 from Elwood, Nebraska. Publisher: E. Nash. Landscape Series, No. 16B.

Price: $3.00

Sledding In The New Year

Posted on January 23, 2016 by Annieoakley

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked January 2, 1916 from San Diego, California. Design copyright: R. G. Rasquin. Series or number 627 – 11.

Price: $15.00

“Every New Year Joy may be yours”

Here’s a charmer, just over 100 years old, and continuing with our winter theme…showing a design of a little boy sledding downhill. A pretty steep hill at that! He appears in an oval frame with snow and icicles gathered at the bottom of the frame, and just underneath, some Christmas-y looking plants and a colorful bird, who is looking at the boy with interest. (Awww!) Was thinking “snowberry” for the plant with the white berries. Probably not even a plant – but no, sure enough, that is exactly what that is. The red flower is likely representing a poinsettia, and the birdie…hmmm, artistic license? He’s got a finch or sparrow look and is green with a yellow belly and red cap. Maybe the artist was inspired by the Gouldian Finch. 😉 Love the icicles hanging from the top of the embossed border, too. There really was a lot of thought that went into these old postcards, not that we should be surprised by that. Note also how the artist has created the feeling of the snow flying up from the motion of the sled, and the pale blue portion of the background, the perfect color blue to fit with snow and ice.

R. G. Rasquin, the printer and/or publisher of this card, is Robert G. Rasquin.

Addressed to: “Master Monte Canning. 161 – 23rd Ave. (Richmond Dist) San Francisco, Calif.”

The sender wrote:

“San Diego, Cal. Dec. 31, 1915. Dear Monte: May you have a very happy birthday and many more to come. Auntie Mel was a little slow in getting your package started but I know you’ll forgive her, won’t you?”

Monte, born in January 1911 (so he was receiving this postcard for his 5th birthday) is Montgomery John Canning, son of Montgomery J. Canning and Louise E. Styles. He had an older sister, Leslie, born in 1909. The 1915 city directory for San Francisco shows Monte’s parents at the same address as the postcard and that Montgomery J. is in the car business under Canning & Vinton Auto Co. “automobiles, 453 Golden Gate Av.”

Below is a 1910 Canning & Vinton ad for their used autos.

Sources: Crocker-Langley’s San Francisco Directory for the year ending June 1915. p. 412. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995)

San Francisco Call, Vol. 108, No. 5. June 5, 1910. p. 59. (California Digital Newspaper Collection.)

“Montgome J. Canning.” and “Leslie B. Canning.” Ancestry.com. California Birth Index, 1905-1995.

HNY From Sonora, CA

Posted on January 12, 2016 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked December 31, 1909 from Sonora, California. Publisher: Davidson Bros., London, England and New York, New York. “Davidson Bros.’ Pictorial Post Cards.” Series 3020.

Price: $5.00

“A Happy New Year”

Yet another in the Ethel Main Collection, this one is from an anonymous sender who writes:

“Dear Mrs. Main. Wishing you all a Happy New Year to all.”

No doubt Mrs. Main knew who the card was from. Looking up Sonora, California…A historic gold mining town in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada range, and named in reference to the Mexican miners from Sonora, Mexico who settled the town in 1848. In 1910 it had a population of about 2,029. (The 2014 population shows about 4,802.) The name Sonora reminds me of two things: one – that I’ve been through the town, or stopped briefly in it years ago, before the old postcard/photo/trade card love/obsession hit; I want to go back to visit to see what treasures await, and two – the line from the movie Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken where I think it’s the hunky love interest that asks for the leading young lady’s name and she answers, “Sonora, Sonora Webster.”
Cool name, I thought, in admiring the character and actress (simultaneously, lol). Based on a true story…Check out this blog article from Horse and Man, on the subject of horse/rider jumping from a high dive platform into a pool of water. Incredible!

Having veered way off track, but it’s always fun…the postcard front is a study in tones of silver, gold and copper of a winter scene of house, stone bridge and stream. The publisher is Davidson Brothers, of London and New York. According to Metropostcard.com they operated from about 1901 – 1911.

Sources: City of Sonora. Sonoraca.com
Accessed January 12, 2016.

Sonora, California. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonora,_California. (accessed January 12, 2016).

“Diving Horses” September 23, 2013. Horse and Man. Accessed January 12, 2016.

“D – Publishers.” MetroPostcard.com. Accessed January 12, 2016.

From Liona And Buddie

Posted on December 31, 2015 by Annieoakley

Divided back, Real Photo Postcard. Postmarked December 24, 1914 from Norwalk, Connecticut.

Price: $5.00

“A Merrie Xmass to all from Liona & Buddie. Come up to see our tree.”

Addressed to: “Mrs. Raymond & Daughter, Upper Main St., Norwalk, Conn.”

Two adorable kids bundled up for winter. The one, about three or four, pushes the other, about one year old, in a stroller. One might think that’s Buddie on the right and Liona on the left, but the names could be for the parents, instead. Nothing definitive shows up in Norwalk for them and same for the addressees. But on a different note, the outfit of the older child might remind you of those little Christmas-y figurines of the kids all bundled up in white – I found out that they are called “Snow Babies” and there are modern collectibles as well as antique figurines.

Christmas Greetings From Mrs. R. Behrle

Posted on December 29, 2015 by Annieoakley

“Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Mrs. R. Behrle.”

Addressed to: “Mrs. Main, 253 14th St, San Francisco, Cal.”

Another in the Ethel Main Collection, and a beauty – holly and berries on a background of pale blue and cream, with a gold-tone border. The holly, lettering and border is embossed but the background has a smaller embossing to give it a textured look. Notice on the larger sprig of holly, the brown stem sticking up at the top right, with the very small leaf – a realistic touch, since if you were to take a cutting from a tree or plant you’d not normally find each leaf, berry or whatever in top form. It’s the little details like this that let us see into the thought process of the artist.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked from San Francisco, California on December 23, 1909.

Price: $5.00

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).

All Good Wishes For Christmas

Posted on December 23, 2015 by Annieoakley

“All Good Wishes for Christmas.”

Here’s a total charmer: A winter-y woodsy scene of two deer who’ve come visiting for Christmas. The first to arrive at the gated entrance is pulling the chain to ring the bell; the second was just a little behind but now turning the corner to join her.

“Hoping your Christmas will be a Happy one. Jack.”

Addressed to: “Mr. Frank Krueglar, 48 Bank St., Troy N.Y.”

Frank V. Kruegler shows up with his parents and siblings at this address on the 1900 Federal Census. He is born March 1888 in New York; his parents are John and Anne Kruegler (John born in New York and Anne in Germany); and siblings are Joseph A., Anthony B., Mary G., George P., and August W. (all born in New York.) His father is a machinist and the oldest boy, John is working as a collar presser. Frank was age twenty when he received this card from Jack.

See MetroPostcard.com under letter P for the publisher PFB.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 22, 1908 from Troy, New York. Publisher: Paul Finkenrath, Ltd. (PFB). Printed in Germany. Numbers: 7846 Relief, 7849 Brillant, 7851 gel.

Price: $15.00

Sources: Year: 1900; Census Place: Troy Ward 5, Rensselaer, New York; Roll: 1152; Page: 15A; Enumeration District: 0075; FHL microfilm: 1241152. (Ancestry.com)

“F – Publishers. PFB.” MetroPostcard.com. (accessed December 23, 2015.)

Wish I Had A Sleigh Ride

Posted on December 19, 2015 by Annieoakley

Xmas Greetings….

“Merry Xmas. Wish I had a sleighride. No such snow out here. They don’t know what a bob sled is. Am feeling fine now. Am looking for a letter too. A.W. 1222 N. Cascade Ave.”

Was that “Am looking far better too” ? (No, but hehe). ….And see the prior post if you don’t know where the term “Xmas” came from…..

What exactly is a bob sled? Have to admit I wasn’t sure. Growing up in Michigan we always either went sledding (the Flexible Flyer type and a little later that aluminum saucer-shaped thing for one person, I think you could tell how much fun you’d had with that one by the number of dents it had accumulated) or tobogganing (similar to the bobsled but with a curled front and without the runners on the bottom). Without getting technical, and just from looking at old photos the bobsled was a multi-person sled that fit two or four persons, sometimes more depending on size, or how many wanted to try to fit at once. Some old bobsled photos show a wheel at the front, some just controls with rope, and some show hitched to a horse. Bobsledding is also called bobsleighing.

Addressed to: “Mr. Harry Orr. Hillsdale, Ill.”

The sender, A.W., could be a relative of the Webb family, who were living at 1222 N. Cascade Ave in 1909 (city directory) and showing on the 1910 Federal Census, but there is no one with the first initial “A” in the household in 1910. From the note it sounds like the A.W. was visiting, anyway. But head of household at this address was Dr. Gerald B. Webb. Nothing was found for the recipient, Harry Orr, in Hillsdale or in Rock County, Illinois in general.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 22, 1909 from Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Price: $6.00

Sources: Bobsleigh. n.d. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobsleigh. (accessed December 19, 2015).

Year: 1910; Census Place: Colorado Springs Ward 1, El Paso, Colorado; Roll: T624_118; Page: 6A; Enumeration District: 0032; FHL microfilm: 1374131. (Ancestry.com).

R. L. Polk & Co.’s Colorado Springs, Colorado City and Manitou City Directory, 1909. p. 800. (Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995.)

Merry Christmas To Miss Harriet Schoonmaker

Posted on December 5, 2015 by Annieoakley

A simple, but elegant winter scene of evergreens and a red house with snow-covered roof, at sunset, with the greeting:

“Only a message in words but few

‘Tis Merry Christmas I’m wishing you”

Addressed to: “Miss Harriet Schoonmaker, Parksville, Sullivan Co., New York.”

The sender wrote: “Hope to see you while I’m home. Florence G.”

Harriet is probably the Hattie Schoonmaker that shows up on the 1910 Federal Census for Liberty, NY which is about 4 and 1/2 miles south of Parksville. She is the daughter of John and Hortense Schoonmaker, and appears on the census with her parents and brother Thomas. Hattie was born in New York around 1888, so would have been about twenty-five when she received the postcard from Florence.

As to the publisher: Huntwood Novelties of Concord, NH was presumably Woodbury E. Hunt’s company, (without knowing the possible details of who owned Huntwood Novelties, if it was a separate entity.) More about the publisher will go up in the next post.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked December 23, 1913 from Yonkers, New York. Publisher: Huntwood Novelties, Concord, New Hampshire.

Price: $8.00

Source: “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M57X-1RF : accessed 5 December 2015), Hattie Schoonmaker in household of John Schoonmaker, Liberty, Sullivan, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 142, sheet 6B, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,375,085.

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Category Archives: Postcards Used

I Can’t Tell Why But I Do

Happy Be Thy Birthday

Sledding In The New Year

HNY From Sonora, CA

From Liona And Buddie

Christmas Greetings From Mrs. R. Behrle

Christmas Greetings, Period

All Good Wishes For Christmas

Wish I Had A Sleigh Ride

Merry Christmas To Miss Harriet Schoonmaker