No Idle Story

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Annieoakley

“This is no idle story,

Which now I sing to you,

In a sudden blaze of glory

Your ship will come to you.

This year she’s coming to you,

From out the Golden West,

And heavily she’s laden

With all that you love best.”

What a beauty! A 1907 postcard in great condition showing a gorgeous print of a painted scene of a couple of sailboats coming in to the harbor at sunset or sunrise, and above this in gold-tone “A Happy New Year to you!” On the right is the above verse in Old English style print; note the sun and rays inside the capital “T.” It’s not often that the verse shows the author, but this one lets us assume that it was Clare T. Baldwin who penned the lovely New Year’s wish. On the other hand, this could have been the artist (or artist and poet), based on some family tree research.

Inquiries are currently being made as to the identity of the author. There is an Emily T. Baldwin, born New York, about 1865, who shows up as a single woman, living with family, occupation Artist, in the 1910 Federal Census taken in Richmond, New York. This person is a possibility, based on an Ancestry.com private family tree for Emily Clarissia “Clare” T. Baldwin. The 1900 census for Richmond shows this same person under Clare T. Baldwin, artist, living with her family.

The sender’s signature is pretty hard to figure, but there is no doubt about the addressee, since it was typed, which is unusual. The card is addressed to:

“Mr. Jas. Flanagan, 2-29. 139 Central Ave., 2146. City.” James Flanagan was much easier to locate. He is listed at 139 Central Ave on the 1910 census for San Fransisco which shows he was born Ireland, about 1856, occupation Buyer for a dry goods (company presumably); his wife Letitia R., born California, about 1871; and his daughter Letitia A., born California about 1894. Living with the Flanagans is lodger Margaret McCabe.

As far as the publisher information, the back of the card shows two names: Ernest Nister of London and E.P. Dutton & Co. of New York. As it turns out these are two very well-known and researched names in the world of antique and vintage ephemera. Briefly, Ernest Nister was a German born printer and publisher known for his superior quality children’s books in the late 19th century and early 20th century, and known for his innovations in the pop-up and moveable picture book genre. Nister started in Nuremburg, Germany and branched out to London and New York. E. P. Dutton & Co. was an American book publishing company founded by bookseller Edward Payson Dutton in Boston in 1852. Dutton began publishing in 1864 and then relocated to New York in 1869. His company became one of the leading U.S. publishers and worked with many famous authors. In 1986 the company was acquired by The Penguin Group. Dutton was known as both distributor for Nister, and later as co-publisher. Many collectables in the form of books, calendars, holiday cards, postcards of either/or and both companies in tandem, can be found online. This particular example that we have for sale here was repeated in at least a couple of other designs that can be found online – in other words with the same general design of a verse in very fancy Old English style lettering and with a place at the bottom for the sender to sign his name.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked December 31, 1907 from San Francisco, California. Publishers: Ernest Nister, London and E.P. Dutton & Co., New York. Printed in Bavaria. No. 352.

Price: $25.00

Sources: “United States Census, 1900,” index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MSLY-2J9 : accessed 3 January 2015), Cloe T Baldwin in household of James G Baldwin, Borough of Richmond New York City Ward 4, Richmond, New York, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 88, NARA microfilm publication T623, National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C.; FHL microfilm 1,241,154.

Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_99; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 0173; FHL microfilm: 1374112

“Ernest Nister.” From “A Brief History of Moveable Books.” UNT Libraries. Web accessed January 3, 2015. [http://www.library.unt.edu/rarebooks/exhibits/popup2/nister.htm]

“E. P. Dutton & Company, Inc. Records.” Syracuse University Libraries Finding Aids. Web accessed January 3, 2015. [http://library.syr.edu/digital/guides/e/ep_dutton.htm]

“Publisher – Ernest Nister/E.P. Dutton” Oct. 20, 2014. Vintage Valentine Museum. Web accessed January 3, 2015. [http://www.vintagevalentinemuseum.com/2014/10/publisher-ernest-nistere-p-dutton.html]

“Dutton.” Penguin.com. Web accessed January 3, 2015. [http://www.penguin.com/meet/publishers/dutton/]

Ring In The New

Posted on January 3, 2015 by Annieoakley

“Ring out the old

Ring in the new,

With greetings gay and wishes true!

Once more the joyous season is here

To wish you a prosperous,

Happy New Year.”

Here’s a lovely card in the Lena Davis Collection, showing the above wish, and a cozy home in winter scene, flocked by three and four-leaf clovers. (A touch of realism there, since four-leaf clovers are harder to find.)

The card is addressed to: “Miss Lena Davis. Calvert, Kans.” and the sender wrote,

“Toledo, Ia. Dec. 29, 1914. Dear cousin Lena. Am sorry to hear that you got her.[hurt] Hope you are allright now. We are all well as usal. Will send you a card now and letter later. Wishing you a very Happy New Year. Your sincere cousin. Beulah Davis.”

Divided back, embossed, unused postcard with writing. Dated by the sender December 29, 1914. Publisher unknown. Series 346A.

Price: $5.00

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.

Another For Alma Johnson

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Annieoakley

“With songs so gay let’s greet the Year,

That Time will stay his flight to hear.”

I had almost forgotten that I had another one addressed to Alma. The street is spelled correctly on this one but the year of the postmark did not get stamped completely. Based on the research for the prior post, January 1st Greetings, the postmark year is probably 1915, although the same card design shows up online in another postcard that is postmarked 1911. But this is a nice one with a court jester playing the lute, and Father Time with wings carrying a scythe, a globe, and an hourglass. It’s signed, “from Ted & Enice” and addressed as, “Mrs. Alma Johnson, Wadsworth St., Hartford Conn.”

According to the excellent website Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City, the publisher L & E would be Lubrie & Elkins, of New York City. Lubrie & Elkins produced all the postcards holding the H.B. Griggs illustrations. The front of this card is signed with the initials “H.B.G.”

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked Dec. 31, likely year 1915, from New Briton, Connecticut. Artist: H. B. Griggs. Publisher: Lubrie & Elkins. Series 2266.

Price: $15.00

Source: “Lubrie & Elkins.” (Publisher – L). Metropolitan Postcard Club of New York City. Web accessed January 1, 2015. [http://www.metropostcard.com/publishersl.html]

January 1st Greetings

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Annieoakley

I’m always amazed at how the senders were generally so on time with their holiday greetings. (This from one who is usually late in sending hers.) This one is stunning, and rather out of the ordinary, showing a beautiful design of a very fashionably dressed young woman who is smiling and throwing snowballs. A wrought iron fence is behind her, and in the far distance a house. The caption “January first Greetings” appears in a cloud, and there are also a couple of evergreens. The sky and border are done in silver-tone. I love the young lady’s expression, her chic winter coat in white with black and red trim, and her red hat. The silhouette of her shoestring bows are a nice touch. The sender wrote:

“Dear Alma, we both wish you a very Happy New Year – Mary.”

The street name on the address seems to have been misspelled; it may have been meant to be addressed as: “Mrs. Alma Johnson, 33 Wadsworth St., City.” It’s postmarked December 31, 1915, from Hartford Connecticut. A 99 year old card, almost to the day!

There are a number of Mrs. Alma Johnsons for this time period on census records in Hartford. The address of 33 Wadsworth St. does not show in the Hartford directory at all in 1915. The 1914 and 1916 directories show the address but different people are living there.

The 1910 Federal Census shows a married Alma Johnson, with husband and children living at 32 Lawrence Street, at the cross street of Ward, which would be a close walk to the address on the card. This census shows head of household Otto A. Johnson, born Sweden, about 1882, occupation Packer in an iron foundry; wife Alma, born Sweden, about 1875; their daughter Esta, age about 1 and 8/12[?]; Alma’s children by her first marriage, Carl, Hilda, Rhiner and Anna Sherman, ages 11, 10, 7 and 5 respectively. All the children were born in Connecticut, and the year of immigration for Otto and Alma shows 1895. This could be the correct record but it’s not for certain. The 1920 census shows the address of 33 Wadsworth St., but a different family is there by this time. The 1910 census doesn’t show the exact address, at all. So, this turns out to be kind of a funny conglomeration of a search – involving a common name, a seemingly incorrect street spelling and missing records. We’ll leave this one then, and move on, as to really try to verify the identity of the addressee would be too time-consuming.

See Another For Alma Johnson for the second postcard we have that was sent to this same person.

Divided back, used postcard. Postmarked December 31, 1915 from Hartford, Connecticut. Publisher: The Fairman Co., Cin. & N.Y., “The Pink of Perfection.” The design on the front was copyrighted by the G. A. Company, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Price: $20.00

Source: Year: 1910; Census Place: Hartford Ward 8, Hartford, Connecticut; Roll: T624_133; Page: 34A; Enumeration District: 0191; FHL microfilm: 1374146. (Ancestry.com)

Holiday Wishes From The Holtorfs

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Annieoakley

Here’s a personalized holiday greeting card, with two deckled edge sides, the printed message, “With the best of Holiday Wishes” and a small design of probably a poinsettia. It’s signed, “The Holtorfs” and shows an older couple with their two grown sons, (note the strong family resemblance) posing in front of their home. If you look closely at the street address on what appears to be a Corinthian style porch column, you’ll see the street number 77 with a mark just to the left. So, it looks like the address might have been 177 or 477, or even 777, but searching the U.S. City Directories under these numbers and the family last name, did not bring up any possible records (without doing an extremely extensive search.) Though we see a basement window, it’s still possible that this is a California home (the card was found in that state) as there were some Californian homes built with basements, even though most were not, due to the ground not freezing; builders therefor not needing to dig below the frost line. I’m guessing that this style might be a Craftsman; we don’t see the whole house so that makes it a little more difficult to determine. As far as the clothing worn by the four individuals in this photo, I think the most striking style detail we see is the double-breasted suit of the man on our right. The other two men are possibly in the same style, though it’s harder to tell. I would estimate this photo to have been taken in the 1930s.

Personalized holiday greeting card with black and white photo and two deckled edge sides. Circa 1930s. Full size of card: About 5 and 1/2 x 3 and 1/2.”

Price: $5.00

The Old Wish At Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Annieoakley

Ahhh, another Christmas card from my favorite unknown artist! Again no date, jeesh! This one is signed “Mildred & Meade.” Yep, one might think this couple’s name would help narrow down the date, since Meade is not a common first name. But as it turns out, there are quite a number of “Mildred and Meades” showing up all over the United States. Anyway, this is a beautiful little card. The small design at the top is done in red, gold and black. It shows a partial scene of a stone cottage, with red roof and rounded door. Birds are in flight, and if this is a seaside cottage then we’re seeing golden waves in the background. In the foreground we see a woman in mid-19th century dress hurrying toward her destination, with her long scarf flying behind her. The scene is bordered with a sort of Art Nouveau styled red line which mimics the line of the cottage. The verse states:

“THE OLD WISH AT CHRISTMAS

No words can keep our hearts as young

As these which ring on every tongue,

MERRY CHRISTMAS”

The other two similar cards that we have on this website are listed under the Charles Jarchow and May Your Christmas Be Merry posts.

Christmas card, circa 1910s – 1930s. Artist unknown. Size: About 4 and 7/8 x 3 and 7/8″

Price: $15.00

God Jul!

Posted on December 27, 2014 by Annieoakley

Well, it’s two days after Christmas but it’s still the holiday season. Here’s a vintage Whitney Made postcard in Swedish showing (after the phrase God Jul! – Merry Christmas!) the verse from a song, along with a Christmas tree and an evergreen in the moonlight scene.

“God Jul!

Var hälsad sköna morgonstund,

Som af profeters helga mun

Är oss bebådad vorden!

Du stora dag, du sälla dag,

På hvilken himlens välbehag

Ännu besöker jorden!”

The song is attributed to German Lutheran pastor, poet and composer Philipp Nicolai (1556 – 1608.) This information was found thanks to the website Projekt Runeberg, which has a page showing the sheet music and additional verses. A simple online translation will not do the verse justice. We’d be happy to get a real translation from someone!

Divided back, embossed, unused postcard. Publisher: Whitney Made, Worcester, Mass. Circa 1910s – 1920s.

Price: $6.00

Sources: “Svenska Missionförbundets sängbok.” Projekt Runeberg. Web accessed December 27, 2014. [http://runeberg.org/smfsang/0038.html]

Philipp Nicolai. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philipp_Nicolai. (accessed December 27, 2014).

Merry Christmas To Grace Baldwin From Irene Ockerson

Posted on December 26, 2014 by Annieoakley

Here’s an absolutely wonderful Christmas postcard from 1906 that has a good luck theme. It’s not the first that we’ve encountered having what would today seem to be the unlikely combination of yuletide and luck: Here’s another great example. Anyway, I guess we could describe the central design of this card as a Christmas ornament: It’s of a silver four-leaf clover suspended inside a round flattened silver piece that has a horseshoe design imprinted on it. Fastened at the top is a long red ribbon done up in a bow, unfurling and artistically framing the ornament. The cursive “Merry Christmas” greeting is embossed in green, and the background in tan with a greenish hue shows a subtle diamond-shaped or lattice-work style pattern. A very elegant card! The clover is the most heavily embossed and is especially beautiful. The postcard is signed on the front by the sender, Irene Ockerson, who mailed it from Red Oak, Iowa, to “Miss Grace Baldwin, Santa Cruz, California.”

Irene Ockerson was born in Iowa, about 1878, of Swedish-born parents Daniel J. Ockerson and Christine (Olsen) Ockerson. The 1880 Federal Census for Red Oak shows Daniel, age 42, occupation Laborer, Christine, age 34; their children Carl L., age 10, Florence, age 8, Irene, age 2; and sister-in-law to Daniel, Hannah Olsen, age 24, born in Sweden. Carl, the oldest child, was born in Illinois, while the girls were born in Iowa.

So, Irene would have been about 28 years old when she sent this postcard to Grace who would have been age 31. The 1900 census for Santa Cruz, shows Grace, age 24, born in California, November 1875, occupation School Teacher, living with her parents and brothers at 155 Locust St. A quick look at city directories shows Grace living at this address at least through 1917. The ’17 directory shows she was teaching at Mission Hill School. The 1900 census shows her living with her parents, who are age 53, born in Massachusetts, Fred D. Baldwin, occupation Farmer, and Mary A. Baldwin; and younger brothers, Arnold M., age 17, occupation Messenger Boy, and Rosco R. Baldwin, age 16 and in school.

From the multilingual back header, and the fact that it’s a divided back in 1906, we see that this card was not printed in the United States. Stamped in blue, above the header, is “Stone Lithograph.” What a wonderful thing to have a description of how the card was made actually included on the card; this is the first postcard, marked as such, that we’ve come across. See this Wiki entry on lithography for a detailed description. The publisher initials on the bottom left appear to be “B.K.W.I.” However, according to the excellent website The Postcard Album, this is publisher Brueder Kohn of Wien (Vienna, Austria). What appears to be the initial “I” is actually the Latin “1” which indicates the downtown Vienna postal district.

Lastly, we won’t go into any searching for a prior owner of this card, but we see that it was once in the collection of a Mr. Peter Barrale, who must also have treasured it.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 19, 1906 from Red Oak, Iowa. Publisher info: B.K.W.I. No. 2651. (Brueder Kohn, Vienna, post office 1.)

Price: $20.00

Sources: Year: 1880; Census Place: Red Oak, Montgomery, Iowa; Roll: 357; Family History Film: 1254357; Page: 310C; Enumeration District: 145; Image: 0621. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1900; Census Place: Santa Cruz Ward 3, Santa Cruz, California; Roll: 112; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 0090; FHL microfilm: 1240112. (Ancestry.com)

Santa Cruz County Directory, 1916-1917. Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989.

Lithography. n.d. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithography. (accessed December 26, 2014).

“Postcard Printer & Publisher Research.” The Postcard Album. Web accessed December 26, 2014. [http://www.tpa-project.info/html/body_identification.html]

A Merry Christmas To Mr. Frank Paul

Posted on December 25, 2014 by Annieoakley

Here’s a lovely card with Christmas bells and holly, and “framed” scene of a home at sunset in winter. I like how the greeting is two-toned in red and gold, and the rustic (this word is starting to be used a lot here at Laurel Cottage) gold border, which does not appear to be meant to represent birch bark, but reminds me of it nonetheless. The card is addressed to: “Mr. Frank Paul, Kimbal & Wabansia Ave., Chicago Ill.”

The sender wrote: “Merry Xmas and a happy New Year to you and the bunch. A. F. Kreft. P.O. Box 1414. Vancouver B.C.”

A.F. Kreft was found on the 1911 Canadian Census for Vancouver: Albert F. Kreft, born in the United States, November of 1878 or ’79, year of immigration 1910; wife Martha, born December 1884, also in the U.S., year of immigration the same. Arthur’s occupation is difficult to read (photo bug? ha ha, nooo…photo eng? Yes.) The 1910 U.S. Federal Census for Sheboygan, Wisconsin shows this couple, both born in Illinois. Albert’s occupation is listed as Photo Engraver, and he is working for a photo engraving company. His WWI Draft Registration card (1918) shows that at that time he and Martha were living in Chicago, his middle name is Frederick, and he was working for the Columbian Engraving Company. Martha’s maiden name is Laser per an Ancestry.com family tree reference, which is funny since decades later engraving is often done with lasers.

The addressee was found on the 1910 census for Chicago: Frank Paul and wife Rose, both born about 1844; and their children, Frank, Jr., Tony, Josephine and Joseph. All born in Austria, year of immigration 1888. Frank is a saloon keeper, Frank Jr. (age 22) is a bar tender, Tony (age 17) a bookkeeper, and Josephine (age 15) a milliner, working at a store. (Wow, every one is working except for the youngest, who is thirteen. Of course, Rose is working in the home.) The house number is not given but appears to have been on N. Kimball Ave. at the cross street of W. Wabansia Ave.

Divided back, embossed, used postcard. Postmarked December 19, 1912 from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Publisher unknown.

Price: $15.00

Sources: Year: 1911; Census Place: Vancouver City, Vancouver, British Columbia; Page: 5; Family No: 46. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Sheboygan Ward 3, Sheboygan, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1739; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0111; FHL microfilm: 1375752. (Ancestry.com)

Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1504078; Draft Board: 84. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Ancestry.com)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Chicago Ward 27, Cook, Illinois; Roll: T624_271; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 1211; FHL microfilm: 1374284. (Ancestry.com)

Laurel Cottage Genealogy

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Category Archives: Holidays

No Idle Story

Ring In The New

To Ethel From Annie

Another For Alma Johnson

January 1st Greetings

Holiday Wishes From The Holtorfs

The Old Wish At Christmas

God Jul!

Merry Christmas To Grace Baldwin From Irene Ockerson

A Merry Christmas To Mr. Frank Paul

Registration State: Illinois; Registration County: Cook; Roll: 1504078; Draft Board: 84. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. (Ancestry.com)