Boats on Sea Shell Souvenir

Posted on November 10, 2013 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used, embossed postcard. Postmarked June 27, 1911, Kewaunee, Wisconsin. Posctard front shows copyright P. Sander, N.Y. #237.

Price: $12.00

Beautiful and unusual embossed postcard showing drawing of a “souvenir” sea shell displaying a sailboat in the foreground and another boat of some type in the background.

Addressed to: Mrs. Fred Ollhoff, Gladstone, Mich., Box 312. Sent from Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

“Dear Cousin: Rec’d your card and was glad to hear from the squaw point people. Mrs. Vogel from St. Paul is visiting with us for a few day But will leave for Manitowoc to-day. We are busy haying now. You wanted to know Bohn..?..Hay’s[?] address, Here it is. 819 Thomas St., St. Paul, Minn. Your cousin Emma Schwartz”[?]

Gladstone is a city in Delta County, (Upper Peninsula) Michigan. Squaw Point is a geographic point of land located in Ensign County across the bay from Gladstone.

Goosey Goosey Gander

Posted on November 5, 2013 by Annieoakley

Goosey Goosey Gander pc2

“Goosey, goosey gander, whither shall I wander? Upstairs, downstairs, and in my ladies’ chamber.” Beautiful colors and embossing, note the heart shapes in the border, the detail evident in the shadows of the lady and the goose, and the fact that the goose wears a top hat. A lovely card!

“Nickerson Kans. Nov. 9 1918. Wishing you many Happy Birthday, the wish of your Friend. Lovingly, Aunt Deal McMillin”

Addressed to: Miss Olive Bookless, Nickerson, Kans., R.R.#1. Postmarked November 10, 1918[?] – Appears to be year 1918. Of course, the sender wrote the year but that is equally hard to read (it figures!) I think that it is ’18 though, in looking at the curvature of the last number of the year in the postmark.

Olive Bookless shows up on the 1920 Federal Census in Salt Creek Township, Reno County, Kansas. In 1920 she is about 17, so she would be about 15 when she received this postcard from her aunt. Census states she was born in Kansas. Also on this census is her father, head of household, Ed R. Bookless, born Kansas, about 1878, widower; his sister, Katie Bookless, born Kansas, about 1890; Ed Bookless’ sons Ross, born Kansas, about 1905; Wiley, born Kansas, about 1911, and Ed’s widowed mother, Jennie Yaggy, born Indiana, about 1856.

The WWI Draft Registration Card shows Olive’s father, Edward Ross Bookless, born Aug. 19, 1877. Address: 1 [Rural Rte. 1], Nickerson, Reno County, Kansas. Nearest relative: Jennie Elizabeth Yaggy, same address. So, this is just a little confirmation that the 1920 census is the right family for this postcard. The WWI Draft Reg Card is dated Sept. 12th. The year on Ed’s card is not written but is 1918 for sure, due to the card format; also one can just page over to the next entry which shows the full date for someone else.

Divided back, used, embossed postcard. Postmarked Nov. 10, 1918.

Sources: Year: 1920; Census Place: Salt Creek, Reno, Kansas; Roll: T625_546; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 193; Image: 420. Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

“United States World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K66J-34S : accessed 05 Nov 2013), Edward Ross Bookless, 1917-1918; citing Reno County, Kansas, United States, NARA microfilm publication M1509, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d); FHL microfilm 1643805.

London S. W. – The Houses of Parliament

Posted on October 14, 2013 by Annieoakley

Wonderful London street scene showing the Houses of Parliament. The tower on the left is Elizabeth Tower, but commonly known as the tower of Big Ben. Big Ben is the nickname for the tower’s bell. The horse-drawn wagons here are so interesting, particularly the bigger one with the guy hanging out on the back, looking toward the camera. Too bad we can’t make out more details on the wagons. This is the second card posted on this site with the surname of Bentzen in San Francisco. It’s likely that Charles Bentzen on the “Japanese Ladies” postcard is the older brother of Eleanor, as the address on Shrader Street is the same (per the 1920 census.)

Addressed to: Mrs. A. Bentzen, 1 Vicksburg St. San Francisco, Californian

As far as I can tell, the card was written in Danish, but I am having trouble translating it. It looks something like:

“Kære Gusta, Kuns disse kort for at forbere de dig at jeg vil sende dig et Brev jeg troer ikke sky[?] edin[?] er min du du sagve[?] i det sidste[?] Brev du fly[?] første[?]. Din Onkel, K..?..”

The second part of the message is harder to read but the first part I think would be translated as something like:

“Dear Gusta. Only sending these cards to let you know that I will send you a letter. I do not believe …?………Your Uncle [starts with a K?]”

Gusta Bentzen was Augusta Bentzen, wife of Hjalmar Bentzen, according to the 1920 Federal Census taken in San Francisco. This census shows Hjalmar Bentzen, born Denmark about 1873, manager of a bakery; his wife Augusta, born Denmark about 1879; their daughter Eleanor, born Denmark about 1904. The family emigrated to the U.S. in about 1905 or 1906. Their address in 1920 was 1445 Shrader St. Daughter Eleanor’s name, written in pencil under the address, is the key to finding the family on this census.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked Oct. 5, 1907. Stamp box shows made in France. Front shows “4 London S. W. – The houses of Parliament, – L. L.”

Price: $15.00

Sources: Big Ben. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Ben (accessed October 14, 2013).

Year: 1920; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 27, San Francisco, California; Roll: T625_142; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 340; Image: 701. (Ancestry.com.)

Japanese Ladies Walking With Candles

Posted on October 12, 2013 by Annieoakley

1916 postcard showing a painting of four beautiful Japanese ladies who are carrying candles and appear to be walking along a sidewalk. There is a small tree in the foreground. This is beautiful artwork. I have no idea what media it was done in, or if it is maybe a well-known work, but it is lovely. If anyone is able to translate the Japanese writing or has any information please contact me.

Addressed to: Ch. Bentzen, Esq., 1445 Schrader St., San Francisco, Calif. Postmarked December 24, 1916, San Francisco. Evidently, the stamp has been removed, perhaps by a collector. Additional postal markings show Panama California, International Exposition at San D (Diego) 1916. Sent by Frodi Sinding of San Francisco.

“With the best wishes for a merry christmas and happy new year. Sincerely yours, Frodi Sinding. 2460 Clay Str., S.F.”

According to his WWI Draft Registration Card, then sender, Frode Sinding was born in Denmark, October 15, 1873, so he would have been age 43 when he sent these holiday wishes. The draft reg card shows occupation as Porter at Lane Hospital in San Francisco, and his permanent address as 2403 Clay St., S.F.

The addressee, Ch. Bentzen was likely the Charles Bentzen who appears on the 1930 Federal Census taken in San Francisco. He is there with his wife Mary E., who was born in California, about 1895. This Charles Bentzen was born in Denmark, about 1893, which if this is indeed the same Charles, makes him about age 23 when he would have received the postcard.

According to a wikipedia entry, “The Panama-California Exposition was an exposition held in San Diego, California, between March 9, 1915 and January 1, 1917. The exposition celebrated the opening of the Panama Canal, and was meant to tout San Diego as the first U.S. port of call for ships traveling north after passing westward through the canal.”

Divided back, used postcard, 1916. Publisher: S.N. Banshudo, No. 14, Shiba Park, Tokyo

Price: $6.00

Sources: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panama%E2%80%93California_Exposition

Registration State: California; Registration County: San Francisco; Roll: 1544245; Draft Board: 11. Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.

Year: 1930; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 197; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 82; Image: 724.0; FHL microfilm: 2339932. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Fifteenth Census of the United States, 1930. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1930. T626, 2,667 rolls.

Napoli Mercato di Pesci

Posted on October 8, 2013 by Annieoakley

Painted Naples, Italy scene of fish market and street.

Napoli Mercato di Pesci. “From Sorrento. I send best wishes for a Happy Xmas and New Year. The presents I will bring in the spring. I wish you were here to enjoy this charming spot. Yours ever, C.H. Dec. 16th.”

Addressed to: Miss Katherine Lau Horne. 222 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.A. Postmarked December 17, 1900, Napoli. It appears that C.H. was staying in Sorrento but sent the card from Napoli. Sorrento is about 50 kilometers down the coast from Napoli. The addressee’s name is an unusual one and will need more research.

Painted scene of Napoli fish market and street. Undivided used postcard, year 1900. Publisher info: 403, Artistica Richter, Napoli. Unable to read the rest due to the sender’s writing, but probably the part at the end is “prop. riserv.” as in property (rights) reserved.

Bears With Boston Baked Beans

Posted on September 29, 2013 by Annieoakley

A charming teddy bear postcard which reads “Just here for over night, back home today. From Aunt Lillie” ? The writing is very faint on the signature. Addressed to Master Alden W. Read, 3302 N. Main, Fall River, Mass. Postmarked Boston, August 4, 1907. Alden W. Read is on the 1910 Federal Census in Fall River at this address, born about 1903, with his parents Frank and Mary. More research finds Alden’s birthdate and place as February 9, 1903, Fall River. Parents Frank D. Read and Mary E. Grinnell.

Sources: Year: 1910; Census Place: Fall River Ward 9, Bristol, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_577; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 0178; FHL microfilm: 1374590. (Ancestry.com)

Massachusetts, Birth Records, 1840-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.Original data: Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. (Ancestry.com)

Congo Girl

Posted on August 4, 2013 by Annieoakley

Real Photo Postcard. Black and White. Circa 1957. Photographer: Casimir Zagourski.

Price: $45.00

This is a postcard that was sent from Saratoga, California, postmarked October 29, 1957. To protect the receiver’s privacy, the back of the postcard which shows the address, is not included here. The sender’s writing on the side states, “One type of hair dress in the Congo.” It is assumed that this photo was taken in the Congo, because of the sender’s remarks, but there is no description on the back of the postcard. It is possible that the sender had traveled to the Congo and sent the postcard upon his or her return to the United States but we would not know that for sure; there is no indication in the writing on the back, and no way to research the sender as it is signed with “love from a friend.” The photographer’s stamp on the back appears to read as: “C. Zagourski Photographie. Léopoldville – Congo (Belge) Reproduction Interdit.” (Most of the stamp is readable)

Research shows this photographer is Casimir Zagourski. (1883 – 1944) Casimir, the son of a Polish nobleman, was born Kazimierz Zagórski, August 9, 1883 in Zytomierz, Ukraine. After serving in the military, he headed for the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of Congo.) He established a studio in Léopoldville in 1924, and ran this until his death in 1944, selling photographic albums and postcards and making expeditions to photograph and record on film, other areas of Africa including Kenya, Rwanda,Tanzania (Tanganyika) and Uganda. He recognized that he was capturing a way of life in Africa that was disappearing, as evidenced by the title he gave to a grand body of work: L’Afrique Qui Disparait. His work was viewed in Paris at the Colonial Exhibition in 1937, and he won a gold medal, the grand prize at the 1937 International Exhibition at Brazzaville. These are just a few simplistic facts included here with this post, however the life of this influential photographer has been written about by author Krzysztof Pluskota, and appears in the book entitled In and Out of Focus: Images from Central Africa, 1885-1960 edited by Christraud M. Geary.

For this blog’s author, this postcard is yet another example of how research on one photo, one postcard, one trade card, one whatever, is like opening a door to a whole other world. Check out the incredible collections online in the Yale postcard collection and Gallery Ezakwantu.

Sources: Geary, Christraud M. (Ed.) (2003) In and Out of Focus: Images from Central Africa, 1885-1960. London: Philip Wilson Publishers. (Googlebooks)

Gallery Ezakwantu (www.ezakwantu.com)

Yale University, Casimir Zagourski Postcard Collection (www.library.yale.edu)

Feather and Roses

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Annieoakley

“Miss Maggie, how are you. We are all well. Hope you are better. It is afful [awful] warm here. By by.” Signed, CEM or LEM? This postcard is postmarked June 5, 1911, Kansas, and addressed to: Miss Maggie Miller, 805 S. 14th St., St. Joe, MO. The city name in Kansas is cut off but starts NEO, which means this would have been postmarked in Neodesha, Neosha Falls or Neosho Rapids.

Update: Here’s another card that went to a Miss Maggie Miller. They may be one and the same.

Divided back postcard, white border, printed in Germany, series 7014B. Publisher: Samson Brothers. Postmarked June 5, 1911.

Price: $10.00

Meliden Road, Prestatyn, Wales

Posted on June 8, 2013 by Annieoakley

Divided back, used postcard. Published by Summerskill, Prestatyn, Wales. Postmarked August 13th, circa 1904 – 1910.

Price: $7.00

Prestatyn is a seaside resort town in Denbighshire, Wales. Located on the coast of the Irish Sea. The town of Rhyl (mentioned by the sender of the postcard) is located about 4 miles west of Prestatyn, and is also a seaside resort town. Although the year the card was mailed is unreadable, the stamp used is a King Edward VII “yellow green” which possibly dates this postcard from around 1904 – 1910. The postcard was addressed to:

“Miss Lane, 84 Bloxwich Rd., North Walsall, Staffordshire.” The upside-down writing reads as:

“Dear J(?), It is lovely here. We are going to Rhyl one day. Wish you were here. Sitting in the garden writing these with love, Elsie.”

Williamsburg Bridge, New York

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Annieoakley

Divided back postcard. Postmarked December 11, 1909 from New York, NY. Publisher: The H. Hagenmeister Co., New York. Printed in Germany. Number 315.

Price: $15.00

The Williamsburg Bridge crosses the East River in New York City connecting the Lower East Side of Manhattan with the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. At the time it opened in December of 1903, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.

“N.Y.C, Sat. Eve. Dec. 11 ’09. Dear Folks, 10 hr sketch a(?) esquisse – esquisse today. Subject a Facade of a Ferry(?) House. About 1/2 the ___ price(?) to design. Turned out the best sketch I have yet. Expected to go down town this eve – but it’s late and I’m tired. Will go to ___ library(?) and take a walk. Tomorrow will hear(?) Hillis I think, Trash, Lang, and I. Will send the original “pansif”(pensif?) of my ferry house right away. No mail today. ____ ____ Your(?) Harold” Card is addressed to Miss Lucile Umbenhauer, 932 Park St., Grinnell, Iowa.

This postcard must have, at one time, been in the possession of the recipient’s daughter, Bettie Ogden, per the writing at the top of the back of the card. The 1925 Iowa census shows Lucile (Umbenhauer) Ogden, born about 1893, her husband Parke Ogden, her parents Daniel Umbenhauer and Luella (Way) Umbenhauer. The 1940 Federal Census record shows Lucile and Parke’s daughter Elizabeth Ogden, born about 1930, daughter Constance Ogden, born about 1926, and other family members. As to the sender, research indicates he is Harold Way, as Harold appears on the 1905 Iowa census residing at 932 Park St., Grinnell. Harold Way and and Luella (Way) Umbenhauer were siblings, so Harold addressed this card to his niece, who would have been about 16 years old at that time. From the content of the postcard, it sounds as if Harold may have been in architectural school…Further research shows Harold David Way, born 4 Oct 1883, occupation “Draughtsman,” employed by A.C.Bossom at 366 5th Ave. New York, and married, wife’s name Elizabeth, on the WWI Draft Registration Card. A.C.Bossom was London-born architect, Alfred C. Bossom (1881-1965.) The 1920 Federal Census taken in NYC confirms Harold’s occupation as architect, and shows him with his wife, their son Arnold, and a boarder, Ethel Daniels.

Sources: Ancestry.com. Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

1940; Census Place: Cass, Jones, Iowa; Roll: T627_1172; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 53-1. Source: Ancestry.com. 1940 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.

“United States, World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K6J3-DXR : accessed 01 Jun 2013), Harold David Way, 1917-1918.

Source Citation: Year: 1920; Census Place: Manhattan Assembly District 13, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1208; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 941; Image: 617. Source: Ancestry.com. 1920 United States Federal Census [database on-line].

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