Divided back, unused postcard. Publisher:  Wolf & Co., New York. No. 1503. Card date unknown, possibly circa 1910.

Price:  $10.00

“Wishing You a happy St. Patrick’s Day.”

“Dear Erin how sweetly

thy green bosom rises,

An emerald set in

the ring of the sea.”

Beautiful postcard and verse for St. Pat’s Day, showing a drawing of a young woman, representing Ireland, in a white gown and unusual head covering with cape attached. She is standing on the world. The flowing lines of her long hair, dress and cape, the graceful placement of her hands, and her expression make this a particularly lovely card. The verse is the first two lines of a poem by John Philpot Curran, (1750 – 1817) noted Irish speaker, politician, wit, lawyer and judge. Curran was born in Newmarket, County Cork, and it’s interesting to read that at the start of his career he struggled with public speaking and had a speech impediment. The speech impediment was overcome by reciting Shakespeare and Bolingbroke (an English politician and philosopher) in front of a mirror.

Sources:  Williams, Alfred M. The Poets and Poetry of Ireland With Historical and Critical Essays and Notes. Boston:  James R. Osgood and Company, 1881 (Google eBook)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Philpot_Curran