This comic postcard, featuring a secret romantic tryst, was not mailed. The postcard was presented to Miss Bessie Beckley who lived on a rural delivery
Mr. Harry Pyle lived in Wagontown, an unincorporated community in Chester County of southeast Pennsylvania. This small community, about 3 miles north of Coatesville, has
Miss Anna Miller was in New Haven, the port city and University town in south-central Connecticut. Located on a harbor on Long Island Sound, New
Mr. Charles Newell lived in South Royalton, an unincorporated village within the town of Royalton in Windsor County of east-central Vermont. The village, home to
This postcard image looks very similar to one that was shared two years ago. On that the postcard, we saw the same theme of one
Miss Mabel Fulton lived in Safe Harbor, the community that grew up around the confluence of the Conestoga and the Susquehanna Rivers in southern Lancaster
Miss Velma Homer lived in Hillsdale, a town in east-central New York State -near the border of Massachusetts. This area, along the Taconic Mountain Range,
Miss Opal Denning lived in Terre Haute, the city on the highlands above the Wabash River in west-central Indiana. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terre_Haute,_Indiana It appears that Miss Denning
Miss Ida Bidwell lived in Prairie City, a small city in Jasper County of central Iowa. The first settlement in this area grew up around
Paul Shickley lived in Marietta, the beautiful town overlooking the Susquehanna River in central Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marietta,_Pennsylvania Sometime around 1910, Paul was given a postcard from
Miss Dora Wyckoff lived in Hightstown, an historic borough which was the commercial and cultural center of the Raritan Valley in central New Jersey. Today,
Miss Dora Wyckoff lived in Cranbury, a township in Middlesex County of central New Jersey – equidistant from New York and Philadelphia. The community was
Miss Myrtle Caldwell lived in New Castle, the city and county seat of Lawrence County on the Shenango River in west-central Pennsylvania. New Castle is
Miss Nellie Dillon lived in Grapeville, a census-designated place in Westmoreland County of west-central Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grapeville,_Pennsylvania In April of 1907, Nellie received a postcard from
Mrs. Blanche Waltmire lived in Heilwood, now a census-designated place in Indiana County of west-central Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heilwood,_Pennsylvania Originally a lumber town called “Possum Glory”, Heilwood
Miss Grace Conklin lived in Nyack, a village on the Hudson River about 15 miles north of New York City. Settled by Dutch farmers about
Miss Ella Bunts lived in Tracy Creek, once a lumbering and farming community that is now included within the town of Vestal – a western
In other postcard stories, we have seen comic or romantic themes illustrated by the publishers, Bamforth & Co: “Under the Umbrella”, “The Male is Late”,
Miss Mayme Pulcher lived in Grand Rapids, the center of industry and commerce on the Grand River in Michigan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Rapids,_Michigan We know from earlier postcard
Mr. A. Dunmire lived in Kittanning, a borough on the Allegheny River in Armstrong County of western Pennsylvania. In the early 20th century, Kittanning had
Mrs. Ruth Carter lived in Fairbury, a small city in Livingston Cunty of north-central Illinois. The town was laid out in 1857 as a “depot
We have seen a variety of romantic postcards – some are earnest, some declarative, many are humorous, some bear a warning. This postcard shows the
Miss Clara McElroy lived in East Liverpool, a city on the Ohio River in eastern Ohio – near the intersection of Ohio, Pennsylvania, and West
Miss Kathryn Zinn lived in Oxford Mills, an unincorporated community in east-central Iowa. The community grew up around a grist mill established in 1857. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_Mills,_Iowa In
Mr. Gilbert Grandy lived in Rochester, the booming industrial city in western New York State. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rochester,_New_York In August of 1911, Gilbert received a postcard from
Mr. Harry Rumsey lived in Rochester, the thriving industrial city on the Genesee River near Lake Ontario in western New York. The Erie Canal connected
Mr. Albert Page lived in Chenango Forks, a hamlet in Broome County of south-central New York State. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chenango_Forks,_New_York In January of 1907, Albert received a
This romantic postcard was published by the Bamforth Company, which had offices in England and in New York. The postcard was printed in England. We
Miss Mattie E. Beers lived in Bradley Beach, a borough on the Atlantic coast – south of Asbury Park in east-central New Jersey. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradley_Beach,_New_Jersey On
The early twentieth century saw larger numbers of women working outside the home. The growth of industry and commerce required clerks, typists, and other office
Harvey Dohner lived in Lebanon, a center of steel mills and agricultural production in central Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lebanon,_Pennsylvania We saw recently a postcard photograph of young
Mr. Jesse VanScoy lived in Norwalk, a city in Fairfield County of southwest Connecticut. Norwalk is on the northern shore of Long Island Sound. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norwalk,_Connecticut
This Romantic postcard was not mailed. We do not know if illustration had a special meaning to the collector who preserved it. The image was
Miss Mae Adams lived in Macon, a city on the Ocmulgee River in central Georgia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macon,_Georgia In November of 1907, Mae received a postcard from
Mr. Gilbert Grandy lived in Dundee, a village in west-central New York State. Seneca Lake, one of the Finger Lakes, is four miles east of
Miss Ruth Hoppes lived in Mulberry, a small city in southeast Kansas. Founded as a mining town on the site of an Indian camping site,
Mr. H. C. Stolzenbach lived in Baltimore, the busy port city and transportation hub for central Maryland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baltimore In February of 1909, Mr. Stolzenbach received
We met Estella Dunlap (“Stella”) in other postcard stories. Postcards that were mailed to her are addressed to Coatesville, PA. In the early 20th century,
Miss Ruby Kroff, possibly Kropp, lived in Oneida – a city in Madison County of central New York State. Oneida grew up as the Erie
Miss Nellie Brauff lived in Allegheny, a city on the Allegheny River of western Pennsylvania that was later incorporated into the city of Pittsburgh. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allegheny,_Pennsylvania
Miss Ruth Oppenheim (possibly, Offenheim) lived in Bedford City, now the town of Bedford. Bedford lies south of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and east of
One can find many postcards of the early 20th century with the theme of “too busy to write”. Some of these postcards, like this one,
Mr. Joseph Labreche lived in Fall River, a busy commercial and transportation center at the mouth of the Taunton River in southeast Massachusetts. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fall_River,_Massachusetts In
Miss Anna Wallner lived in New Bedford, the port city in south-east Massachusetts that had once been a whaling center for the nation. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Bedford,_Massachusetts In
Miss Irean Roche lived in Kings Mills, a census-designated place on the west bank of the Little Miami River in southwest Ohio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_Mills,_Ohio In January
This amusing and suggestive postcard was not mailed. Consequently, we lack information about the sender, or the location of the woman to whom it was
Miss Millicent Fellows lived in Kinzua, now a “ghost township” in Warren County of northwest Pennsylvania. The community was a prosperous center of the lumber
Miss Velma Magley lived in Hillsdale, a town in the hills of Columbia County in southeast New York. Hillsdale is close to the border of
Miss Zilpha Hyde lied in Lowell, a city on the Grand River, about 15 miles east of Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Michigan Zilpha resided in the
Miss Julia Hoehn lived in Warren, a city on the Mahoning River in northeast Ohio. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren,_Ohio In May of 1909, Julia received a comic postcard
Miss Leila M. Howard lived in Belfast, a city on Belfast Bay and Penobscot Bay in southeastern Maine. The city was burned by the British during
Miss Maude Pettit lived in Tonawanda, a city that grew up near the terminus of the Erie Canal – north of Buffalo, NY. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonawanda,_New_York In
There are numerous songs of the music hall and vaudeville era that explore the sadness or misery hidden beneath a bright and blooming appearance. “After
Mr. Harry Kreamer lived in the community of Kreamer, a census-designated place in Snyder County of central Pennsylvania. Until 2019, the community had been the
Miss Elsia Hyde lived in Lowell, a city on the Grand River about 15 miles east of the much larger city of Grand Rapids. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lowell,_Michigan
Miss Mayme Kleppink lived in Pittsburgh, the industrial powerhouse in western Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh It seems that Mayme had a beau, Mr. Miller, about whom Mayme
Mr. Norman Swartz lived in Topeka, the capital city on the Kansas River in the State of Kansas. Originally, Topeka was a ferry point for
This postcard is a vintage wedding invitation – one of the few I have ever found. Miss Edith Lesher lived in Steelton, an industrial borough
We met Miss L. C. Hyde in earlier postcard stories; she received a postcard from her friend who wrote to her from Belding, Michigan. Miss
Miss Lavinia Briggs lived in Minneapolis, the city on the upper Mississippi River that was an industrial powerhouse for agricultural milling and food production. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minneapolis
A Kiss at Midnight – Berkeley Springs, WV (circa 1910) We met Miss Odessa Mendenhall in earlier postcard stories – we recently looked at the
Miss Mamie Whitney lived in Woodstock, the beautiful Shire Town on the Ottauquechee River in east central Vermont. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodstock,_Vermont In August of 1907, Mamie received
Miss Audie Beninger lived in Greenwood, West Virginia. Alas, there are three unincorporated communities by that name in West Virginia. There is also an abandoned
The face of this lovely postcard shows a night-time boating excursion. A young couple drifts in a rowboat, under the light of a full moon.
Christmas was over, and Elmer was bored. “We don’t do much but sit in the house”, he reports. Elmer anticipated that he will “be here
Miss Emma Vinier lived in Providence, the beautiful city on the Providence River and the capital of Rhode Island. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Providence,_Rhode_Island It seems that Miss Vinier
This comic postcard was made and published by our old friend, J. Murray Jordan, the prolific postcard publisher of Philadelphia. On this site, I have
This unusual postcard was not mailed, but collected and preserved in very good condition. Alas, we cannot identify any individuals connected to the romantic scene.
This is the second half of the postcard series depicting a scene of romantic extortion. The first postcard, “Pay of Swim” was mailed to Antoinette
This is the first of two postcards illustrating a brazen attempt at romantic extortion. The face of the postcard shows two well-dressed young ladies crossing
Mr. Lester Burns lived in Wilmington, the city on the Brandywine Creek and the Christina River in northern Delaware. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilmington,_Delaware In February of 1917, Lester
Miss Stella Corcoran lived in Bendena, a census-designated place in the northeast corner of Kansas -about 15 miles north of Atchison. Bendena had another name
We met M. Z. McGill in two earlier postcard stories: “Help Us Name the Baby” and “The Trip to Bunker Hill”. From the postcard evidence
Mrs. Roy Myers was recently married. The happy couple lived in Wooster, the charming city in northeast Ohio, about 50 miles southwest of Cleveland. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wooster,_Ohio In
Miss Naomi Stevens lived in Greenville, a city in west-central Ohio. General Anthony Wayne built a large fort here in 1793 to protect the western
We met Mark McGill in an earlier postcard story when he was asked to name a new baby boy. In 1913, Mark was living in
Mr. Jesse Stambel lived in Sharpsburg, an unincorporated community in Athens County of southeast Ohio. This is a rural area, close to Gifford State Forest.
Miss Grace Dotson lived in Harrisville, a town in northwest West Virginia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrisville,_West_Virginia Sometime around 1905, Grace was given a postcard greeting related to the
Miss Mayme Pulcher lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Rapids,_Michigan Mayme had a devoted suitor, Tom, who traveled through the upper Midwest for his business. Every
Mr. Edwin Eberly lived in Stevens, the unincorporated community of northern Lancaster County – named for Thaddeus Stevens. Stevens was also known in the early
Although the face of the postcard shows a scene of courtship, I believe that this postcard was exchanged between friends, perhaps schoolmates. The postcard is
L. C. Hyde lived in Lowell, Michigan, within the household of Will Condon. (We met members of the Condon family in an earlier postcard story,
The newspapers of William Randolph Hearst printed postcards as inducements to subscribers. (Earlier postcard stories related to newspaper postcards which depicted the San Francisco Earthquake,
Miss Ruth Hopper lived in Mulberry, a small city in southeast Kansas. The place was named for wild mulberries that once grew there. In May
This postcard is one of a series of postcard drawings depicting young lovers. Each one of the series shows a young man and young woman
Old Point Comfort is the extreme tip of the small peninsula that is the eastern extremity of Virginia. It was named for an incident involving
Miss Rachel Morton lived in Oxford, the lovely borough in Chester County that was a center of industry before the slow demise of the railroads
Alice Cleaver lived in York Springs, a resort community in Adams County. (We met Alice in an earlier postcard story about attending the York Fair.)
We met Annie Robidou in earlier postcard stories; Annie inspired or collected many postcard illustrations related to courtship or love. In January of 1911, Annie
Fred Boardman lived in Utica, a city on the Mohawk River at the foot of the Adirondack Mountains in central New York. Utica became a
Louise lived in Wilmington, Delaware and had not heard from Hattie Adair for some time. Hattie lived in Chester Springs, a community in Chester County,
We met Annie Robidou in an earlier postcard which bore the illustration of a maiden carried piggyback at the lake. I mentioned that I had
In addition to the proud postcard memorials to local monuments or scenic splendors, plus the enormous variety of seasonal and holiday greetings, a large number
This comic postcard, published by Bamforth & Company, was printed in England. Other comic postcards of Bamforth (the large moustache, the forgotten purse) have been
Miss Leeanna Truxell lived in Mount Pleasant, a borough 45 miles southwest of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania. Between 1910 and 1920, the area was a
In the early 20th century, Webster Springs was a resort town to which visitors flocked to experience the curative powers of the salt sulfur springs.
Mr. Morris was in Washington D.C. when he sent a flirty postcard greeting to Miss Lelia Hicks. Miss Lelia lived in the small community (“populated
Lizzie Baumgardner lived in Fulda, a small city on Lake Fulda in southwest Minnesota. The town is known as the “Home of the Wood Duck”.
Annie Robidou was a lively young woman. I have a dozen postcards that were sent to her by friends, relatives, and admirers – all the
Miss Addie Hamilton was working at Smith & McNells – the hotel restaurant that pioneered 24-hour, high-volume, dining since the mid-19th century. Smith & McNells
One can find many postcards from the early 20th century that reflect on marriage and marriage roles.Some of them, intended to be humorous, may be
Miss Etta Pelsey was living in Saint Marys, a small city in north east Kansas. The town grew up around the mission where the US
D. Hillson was a prolific postcard illustrator of the early 20th century; hundreds of his drawings are still available for purchase from purveyors of vintage
This comic postcard was not mailed, so we do not know if the message was intended for a particular person. It is an example of
The collecting of souvenir spoons, especially those made of silver, began in Europe among wealthy travelers of the mid-19th century. The custom was adopted by
Several months ago, we met a young woman of Galion, Ohio; she collected postcard photographs ofchurches. Her name was Emma Hankel. Today, we meet Ethel
“How Could I Suffer Love’s Alarms…” (circa 1910) For many years, I avoided postcards that appeared overly sentimental or “sappy”. I have seen hundreds of
Ada Sends a Valentine to Mr. Burger – Etters, PA, 1908 This romantic tale straddles the Susquehanna River in south central Pennsylvania. Ada lived in
Sending my heart to Oregon, PA The small town of Oregon once boasted a mill, a school a church, and (from 1846-1912) a post office.
In September of 1915, Charlotte sent a postcard from Elizabethtown to Mr. John Buchmoyer of Manheim. The hand-colored photograph shows a well-dressed suitor bending over
Suggestive comic postcards were common in the early years of the 20th century. Enterprising printers could order blank templates and add the name of the
Sporting on the Swatara – circa 1905 This uncolored postcard photograph was printed circa 1905. There is no printers mark, which is a shame as
Wilt Thou Be Married? Circa 1910 I cannot guess why Miss Barringer of Schenectady, NY received a postcard that urged one to memorize marriage vows.
The Flirt – 1907 Not long after the celebration of St. Valentine’s Day in 1907, this comical illustration of a coquette was mailed to L.
Sending Love to Long Level – 1907 On the West Bank of the Susquehanna, a few miles below Wrightsville, is an area known as “Long
How did Blanche Respond in 1910? Long before dating became a digital parade of photos to which you swipe right or swipe left, ardent suitors
Courtship of Shepherds – Art Postcards to Blanche Copeland – 1907 Several months ago, I posted an example of postcard art – original works (many
Miss Blanche Copeland lived in Columbia, the pretty borough and center of commerce and transportation on the Susquehanna River of central Pennsylvania. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia,_Pennsylvania Blanche’s residence