Category: Postcards

Postcards – Throwback Thursday/1903

On By TimelessladyIn Postcards6 Comments

North British Station Hotel, Scotland – Opened in 1902, it is now known as the Balmoral Hotel.

It’s been a long time since I have posted one of my vintage postcards. This one has entranced me for a week or two. I found it in a local Antique Conglomerate, in a box with many others, marked at just fifty cents. Oh my! What a bargain. It is postmarked September 1903, with the image of Edward VII on the half penny stamp. The ephemera I hold in my hand is just a few months shy of being 120 years old.

The age alone makes it a worthy treasure, but for me, it is always the written message, the address, the speculation over the person who picked out, wrote a message, and sent the card, Then, of course, next is wondering over what the person who received it thought of the correspondence. If you are like me, perhaps you too would come up with a whole story around the short message and names.

The postcard is in great shape. I tried to square it up for a photograph, and realized it wasn’t going to happen; the bottom is two to three millimeters less in width than the top. Comparing the date with the opening of the hotel I see it was probably one of the first images taken and sold as a postcard of the location.

Now for the fun part: the messages. The writer of the card had a lot to say in a small space and also used the front. I love the mention of the canaries. I wonder what the L stood for in the name. Was L a man, or a woman? I also wonder what the first name of Miss Young might be…

Eyemouth is a beautiful coastal town about fifty miles from Edinburgh. The word ‘Fruiterer’ means just what it sounds like, a seller of fruit. The recipient might have had a grocery shop, or small stand on High Street. ‘It’s a nicht one,’ is Scottish for night.

This postcard was very clear and easy to read. Other postcards I have are sometimes near illegible. At those times I take a photo of the postcard and magnify it on my computer, creating larger optics to better read the message.

My take on the messages:

Edinburgh 16/9/03
Front:
Dear Miss Young
I have just found
time to send off the P.C.
you requested me to forward.
Hope it will find a
space in your album.
L. Tait
Along the side:
___own Production” Could
you sell any
Back:
I send this just
for a “Lark” and hope
your Canaries are getting
on, & that you don’t miss
the one I took home.
Its a grand whistler.
“Its a nicht one”
Address:
Miss Young
Fruiterer
High Street
Eyemouth
Postmark:
Edinburgh
10:30 AM
SP 13
03

Vintage postcards are a great way to break up the tedium of winter weather and staying indoors.

Photo Challenge & Postcards – Pebbly Beach

On By TimelessladyIn photo challenges, Postcards20 Comments

For this week’s post I’m back to Block Island, RI. I believe this anchor, photographed from Pebbly Beach, is a wind vane of sorts.

Pebbly Beach was one of our favorite spots to visit on Block Island when we stayed in the Sea Breeze Inn.

Visitors to Block Island have enjoyed the Pebbly Beach for over 100 years.

This postcard is postmarked August 29, 1909, almost 110 years in the past. Here’s an easier to read view of what I think Kate wrote to Willie on that long ago day.

Block Island R.I. Aug 28/09
This is how it looks from
the beach in front of the
cottage. From the cottage
we can see over the
point-Tell Annie I’d
rather have ANY trip
than HERS. No more les-
sons at present. I am
where they can’t reach
me – Kate E. Post

I’m not sure of two words, these I printed in capitals. There seems to be some unspoken drama in this post. I wonder what Kate meant about not being reached??? Even today to visit Block Island requires a boat or plane ride. The mystery is a century old. I love old postcards with messages.

Thanks to these bloggers for taking part in last week’s challenge:
Geriatri’x’Fotogallery – Tuna Weather Vane
The 59 Club – Hunter Springs

The Photo Challenge: Each Wednesday, I post a photograph of a Weather Vane with a short description of where it can be found and any history connected to it. The main focus of the challenge is the photo of the Weather Vane and the location. The challenge can be Wordless if that is what you choose. If you would like others to see your post leave a link to your blog in the comment box. You can also tag the post #weathervaneweds. If you place a link to my post in your post you will create a pingback that will appear in the comment section. The challenge is open all week for comments and posts. Thanks so much for taking part in my challenge.

Many thanks to Cee, of Cee’s Photography, for including this challenge in her listing of WordPress Challenges. If you love challenges take a look at this page and while you are there check out some of Cee’s terrific posts. Thanks Cee!

Photographs & Postcards – Throwback Thursday/Teaberry Gum & Photo Tweaking

On By TimelessladyIn Photographs, Postcards12 Comments

couple-with-gum

Does anyone remember the flavor of Teaberry Gum?

“Clark’s Teaberry is a brand of chewing gum which the D. L. Clark Company of Pittsburgh’s north side purchased the patent from Charles Burke, who experimented with various flavors of chewing gum in the basement of 533 McClintock Ave, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Teaberry is currently marketed by Clark Gum Company in Buffalo, New York, and made in Mexico. The gum dates to 1900” ~ Wikipedia

I haven’t seen Teaberry Gum in any large grocers or box stores for many years, but it is still sold in my local Amish Market dry goods store. The flavor is distinctive and so is the aroma.

vintage-5-2

I searched in vain for a copyright free photograph of someone blowing a bubble. I finally resorted to two favorite sites I use for photo tweaking: Adobe Photoshop (Paint, a free computer application also works well for cutting away backgrounds) and the free photo editing site PicMonkey. Most of the applications on PicMonkey are free. The image I used was a postcard stamped with a 1920 postmark.

I cut away the background in Adobe, and used PicMonkey to add the transparent pink bubble.

For those of you who are not sure about images you can use for your blog, look up public domain image laws. I can rest assured that I can use this postcard because it was created and sent before 1920, and the copy I use for my art is owned by me.

“A great source of true public domain images that are available to you are old books and postcards. Look inside the book at the publishing details, if the date of publishing is before 1923, you can legally scan or photograph these images and use at your leisure. The same applies to old photographs and postcards, if the original pre-dates 1923, you can use the image for your purposes without permission or payment.” ~Ebay

Photographs & Postcards – Try Tweaking!

On By TimelessladyIn Photographs, Postcards2 Comments

angel-baby

I’ve shared my love of vintage postcards in past posts…today I want to share a bit of photograph-tweaking using an old postcard. This beautiful postcard features a Victorian angel in feathers on the front. The postmark of 1911 is still visible on the back of the card. Postcards of this age are copyright free and available to use in artwork and designs.

I usually don’t use an image in a stand alone fashion when I use copyright free art. So, I tweaked the original through Adobe Photoshop and one of my very favorite sites, PicMonkey.

angel-baby-squared-fleuriful

I treasure my little cherub, and even better, printing her/him out does not take a lot of printer ink. I am going to use this image for some gift tags and possibly in the future for baby shower gift cards. I enjoy the thought that this artist’s work lives long past the 100+ years ago it was created. Maybe our combined efforts in this altered version will live for 100 more. Thanks for looking!

img_4215-2

Postcards – Easter

On By TimelessladyIn Postcards2 Comments

I enjoy sharing a few of my vintage seasonal postcards from time to time. A Blessed Easter and Spring to you!

Easter Postcard Forget Me Not

“Dear Friend, I guess you think I’m a mighty long time answering your postal received several weeks ago but will try and answer it now. Hoping to see or hear from you soon. Ever your friend. E.” Postmark reads: April 17, 1908

The postcard has to be flipped upside down to read all the message.

Message on Easter Postcard
Message on Easter Postcard

Postcards – Spring and Easter

On By TimelessladyIn PostcardsLeave a comment

I’ve been looking through my postcard selection and setting aside some Easter and Springtime postals to place into tri-folded paper once again. Check out my Valentine’s Post on how to make these simple display pieces.

Displaying your Postcards

I’ve also included a close-up look at a few of the postcards with a translation of their endearing messages. Happy Spring!

Image (31)a

Image (32)a

“We got home after a fashion. Fred was car sick but lays it to your beans. We were dead tired all three kids slept all the way. We were scattered all over the car. Robert is nearly well. I shall look for all of you a week from Sunday. Good by, Ida”
 

(Postcard does not have a date but according the appearance and the stamp I would guess it was sent between 1909 and 1914.)

Image (31)b

Image (32)b

The postcard above was sent in 1912. It reads as follows:

(? ?) “Dear Mabel, This is a beautiful day but cold yet and we have plenty of snow yet they say it is ten feet deep on the side of the road between here and Madrid now. I had a letter from Maud and (?) yesterday and one from your mama this is all I will write this week. Danah Anne has not got so she can sew any yet. Grandma”
 

Image (31)c

Image (33)c

This Easter Postcard was sent in 1908. I love to read the words, enjoy the lack of grammar, and take delight in the phrasing which is so different than the way we speak now. Enjoy the Easter message:

“How do you like your new home by this time? We don’t have no school for a few days not until they fumigate the measles all out. We are all well and hoping you’s are all the same. Stella (?)”

Postcards – Valentines Part 1

On By TimelessladyIn Postcards3 Comments

Valentine 2

Collecting antique postcards and reading the messages is a favorite pastime of mine. I think these beautiful postal Valentine’s are lovely. The postcard above has no message or address. I wonder if it was purchased early, slipped into a drawer, and forgotten. Or perhaps the loving sentiment for the intended departed before the day arrived. We’ll never know.

Here are a few more with the messages translated as well as I was able to read the old-fashioned script.

The one below is my favorite. I delight in long and rambling messages.  I also love this style of postcard, a painting with a landscape scene included.

valentine 1

postcard 1

Dear Morgan,
You ought to come (?) – while the sledding lasts it is fine. Come (?) all are well Mrs Hines is with us now sick. With love, Henry

This card above was mailed from Ardmore, Pennsylvania to Philadelphia in February of 1910.

valentine 3

postcard 2

This card reads, “From Catherine Knight”

The card above was mailed on February 14, 1910 from Robbinston, ME.

valentine 4

postcard 3

I love the gorgeous writing on this postcard. There is no message, only a name and address written in a beautiful hand. The  postal pictured above was mailed on February 13, 1907.

Postcards – An Unexpected Gift

On By TimelessladyIn PostcardsLeave a comment

I recently received a Christmas Card from a dear cousin who lives in Nevada. Inside I found a surprise, three postcards from her collection to mine. They are beautiful. Postmarked 1909 – 1911, they are from the era I most enjoy. Happily, they had interesting messages on the backs. I like postcards that were mailed with messages, not for me are pristine postals (see note)  that were never sent. The photographs below show the postcards with their back sides beneath the fronts, and a translation of their messages. I transcribe them as I see them, with or without proper punctuation, spelling or phrasing.

Sometimes the messages contain just a quick greeting, at times they speak of bad news, and every now and then they might have a quick scolding or request.

Note: Click here for the history of postcards or “postals” as they were first called. History of Postcards

postcard 1

postcard 1w

Dear Willie how are you getting a long I am Fine and dandy. From you cousin Fred Dilkmeyer ans soon. February 1911

postcard 2

postcard 2w

Dear Barb Mother was buried yesterday eve we got to U.S. at 11 am We will be home Fri if nothing happens on 12.8 8 PM But if we happen not to be there Fri will sure be there Sat I will have to rest a few hours before I am able to come. How are you. will see you soon as I can. As ever W.R.W

postcard 3

(I love the beautiful embossing on the front of this postcard)

postcard 3w

Dear Sister I am well how are you and Hollis what is Hazzel Eastern address.  tell Hollis that I did not receive his xmas Postal he sent me. so give him my address right and send me his address from Sister Lutie. give my regards to Minnie and all.

Thanks Myrna…I love them all. 🙂

Postcards – Vintage Thanksgiving and Autumn

On By TimelessladyIn Postcards5 Comments

I collect old postcards. I don’t have a preferable style, but I do tend to collect the years of 1900 through 1910. Many of the postcards are related to holidays, birthdays or seasons of the year. I’ve included two Thanksgiving postcards here along with an Autumn Scene.

So often my postcards will have a picture in a picture…in the case above a landscape within a seasonal depiction of a turkey.

Many postcard collectors prefer pristine cards that have no writing and have never been mailed. I am just the opposite; the more cramped, old-fashioned writing a card has, the more I love it.

I also find the wisdom of this postcard mailed a hundred years ago to be as true today as it was in the early 1900’s – Live for Today.

It can be quite a challenge to read the writing…scrawly, in this case written by a lefty, and using expressions not common today, but it is a challenge I love. A good way to attempt to decipher the cramped writing is to scan the card and magnify on your computer screen. Here is how this postcard reads:

Dear Effie I rec. (received) your card and was glad to hear from you and (a name I can’t read), I will wish you both a Happy New Year. Will (unknown word) and write soon. My head is troubling me. I suppose you have not the cold winter where you are as have both. Altog (?altogether?) we have had it very mild so far. I hope it may continue for I do not like the cold. With lots of love. Your old friend Ada.