Contributions of the group Weird Vintage Postcards

Guess

nobody@ipernity.com (Deborah Lundbech) — Sat, 17 Jan 2026 16:08:14 +0000

Hmmmmmmm…… Who am I reminded of?

Bought in Bristol, 2024, "Your Home” shop.

Pic a day: 18/365

A Mess of Potatoes

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 03:58:02 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the monthly theme of pick your favorite theme(s)—why is it (are they) your favorite(s)? (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic).

William H. Martin (1865-1940), a Kansas photographer who was a master of photomontage, created this real photo postcard in 1908. Postcards like this by Martin and other photographers were especially popular in the early twentieth century and featured gigantic fruits and vegetables, dangerously oversized animals and fish, and amusingly huge products. These humorous trick photos are some of my favorite kinds of vintage photographs. For more examples, see my album of Tall-Tale and Exaggeration Postcards, which includes both photographic and printed cards.

This particular postcard bears a postmark of April 7, 1909, and is addressed to "Mrs. Susan W. Dick, Roaring Springs, Penna. Care [of] Ora L. Dick." The message on the other side refers to the photo on the front: "Dear Mother, Hope you are better. I thought I would send you a mess of potatoes. They look good. Thad & Sue."

Lament of the Country Outhouse

nobody@ipernity.com (Deborah Lundbech) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 23:52:21 +0000

Deborah Lundbech has posted:

Uploaded for the Vintage Photos Theme Park theme of: BIRDHOUSES, DOGHOUSES, OUTHOUSES, ETC.
An "outhouse" in the United States refers to a primitive toilet - a plank with a hole cut in it to sit on situated over a deep hole.
A postcard sent to my husband's grandfather in Springfield, Vermont from a young colleague who had recently joined the army and was stationed in Alabama.
The date stamp is Aug. 18, 1944.

Hi ILLIE:
I'm feeling fine and hope the same for you. I've been down here for weeks.
Weather down here is plenty warm.How is everything going at the shop?
Charlie

Wish You a Merry Christmas, Vermont State Prison

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 26 Dec 2020 02:58:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Was "Parkhurst" an inmate at Vermont State Prison? Miss Estella M. Clark of East Jaffney, New Hampshire, was the recipient of this postcard in 1905.

Those Dreamy Eyes

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 03:52:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This is a postcard that's addressed on the other side to Miss Nellie Groves, Greenland, West Virginia. It was postmarked in Maysville, West Virginia, but the date is missing.

Handwritten message: "Hello Nellie, How are you by this time. I am going to school today, when are you coming over. This is from your beau. Henry."

For a similar postcard, see Here Is Looking at You.

Too Much Pork for Just One Fork

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 13 Sep 2020 23:59:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

The caption on the front of this exaggeration postcard is "Feeding Time," but I borrowed "Too Much Pork for Just One Fork" from Southern Culture on the Skids, who used it as a song and album title.

This is a photomontage by Kansas photographer William H. Martin (1865-1940). For more examples of Martin's work, see Good Corn Makes Good Hogs and A Mess of Potatoes.

This real photo postcard is addressed on the other side to Mr. Richard Storey, Medora, Ill., but there's no stamp or postmark.

Handwritten message: "5/15 1910. They raise 'em like this in Indiana. J.O.B."

Beam Eye Bow—A Puzzle

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 03:54:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Beam Eye Bow. This is a puzzel."

Have you figured out the puzzle? The illustration accompanying "Beam Eye Bow" (say the words quickly a few times) is a rebus that translates to "Be My Beau"(a beau, of course, is a boyfriend or sweetheart).

This is a postcard designed to look like a school slate, and its playfully flirtatious message reminds me of an acquaintance card (compare it with May I See You Home?).

There's no date on this postcard, but I have a second copy with a 1907 postmark, and a web search uncovered another example from 1909.

For another bow/beau postcard, see To My Affinity From One Who Has No Bow.

Easter Chick Recital

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 12 Apr 2020 16:04:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"A Happy Easter." These strange but distinguished chick musicians appear on a postcard that was postmarked in Baltimore, Md., on April 5, 1912.

You Are the Apple of My Eye—We Should Make a Good Pair

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 15 Mar 2020 21:21:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"You are the [apple] of my [eye]. We should make a good [pear]."

A postcard addressed on the other side to "Miss E. Jonkin [or Tonkin], Trescobease Manor, Falmouth, [Cornwall, England]."

Handwritten note on the verso: "Dear E., So sorry we shall not make a pair this year on account of this terrible war. Your devoted G."

Printed on the other side: "'National' Series. Made in Gt. Britain. No. 1866."

Although there's no date or postmark (and the stamp once affixed to the back of the postcard is missing), "G." was evidently writing to "E." sometime during the "terrible" years of World War I (1914-1918).

For other romantic rebuses featuring fruit and vegetables, see You Had Better Ask Papa and A Farmer's Love Letter.

New Year Mushrooms and Snails—Viel Glück im Neuen Jahr

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 02 Jan 2020 04:46:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Viel Glück im neuen Jahre."

"Good luck in the New Year" is the message on this early twentieth-century German postcard featuring a snail chauffeur with two mushroom passengers.

May Love Always Serve Your Thanksgiving Feast

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 05:10:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"May love always serve your Thanksgiving feast. HBG."

A Thanksgiving postcard illustrated by H. B. Griggs (HBG).

At first glance, I somehow thought that this was a Valentine's Day postcard with a couple of Cupids who were rather gruesomely melting a heart or maybe trying to fix a broken one. But after I read the sentiment, I realized that they're roasting a turkey rather than a heart, and it's a Thanksgiving Day card instead of a valentine.

For another curious Griggs holiday card featuring these Cupid-like putti, see May Love Light Your Halloween Lantern!

Halloween Greetings—What's Meant for Thee, Thee'll Have

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 20 Oct 2019 21:04:20 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Halloween postcard addressed on the other side to "Miss Bertha Duncan, Cresson, Penna.," and postmarked in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on October 24, 1912.

Handwritten message: "This card is a little soon for Halloween but I will send it anyhow. Aquilla."

Printed on the back: "Printed in Saxony 0624."

In a candlelit room at midnight on Halloween, a young woman gazes into a mirror through the steam from a cauldron so she can catch a glimpse of her future husband.

For other Halloween postcards with a mirror-gazing theme, see:

-- Halloween Greeting—I Gaze in the Mirror My Future There to See
-- Halloween Greetings—Look Out for Ghosts
-- Wishing You a Lucky Halloween

You Have the Key That Fits My Heart

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 15:42:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A woman fans herself as a man encroaches on her personal space while they are both perched dangerously on top of a giant key in this amusing image from an early twentieth-century postcard.

Caption: "You have the key that fits my heart."

Some Good Size Murphys

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 03:45:54 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Photomontage in a tall-tale or exaggeration photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

"Some Good Size Murphys." Giant potatoes created by an unidentified photographer.

The Bass I Caught

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 05 Aug 2019 03:45:52 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Photomontage in a tall-tale or exaggeration photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

A real photo postcard created by William H. Martin in 1909.

The Salesman—He Nags You Until You Must Buy

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:04:17 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This vinegar valentine is a postcard that was addressed to H. W. Booser, 13th Street, Harrisburg, Pa. The card was postmarked first in Lewisberry, Pa., and then a second time in Harrisburg, Pa., on Feb. 14, 1908. Although the postcard was sent anonymously with no message or signature, it's possible that the recipient recognized the sender by the postmark or through the handwriting of the address.

As it turns out, Harry W. Booser lived at 121 N. 13th Street in Harrisburg, and he worked as a salesman, so the vinegary humor of the card was apparently directed at him.

The Salesman

His motto is still do or die
And he nags you until you must buy.
His line is complete
And his nerve hard to beat
But sometimes he goes on the fly.

Signs, etc., in illustration:

Office.
This is our busy day.
Samples.
This way out.
85% discount to jobbers.
Expense account.

Christmas Eve Greetings, 1908

nobody@ipernity.com (Deborah Lundbech) — Tue, 25 Dec 2018 17:05:37 +0000

Deborah Lundbech has posted:

Holly, a wishbone and ? decorates this postcard. Above the greeting, a small oval shows (I suppose) the senders of this postcard mailed to East Fairfield, Vermont on December 24, 1908.

Christmas Candle Kissing Apple

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 13:56:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Merry Christmas. Love and best wishes, Catharine."

An odd anthropomorphic scene of a burning candle kissing an apple as they hang together as ornaments on a Christmas tree.

This postcard dates to the first decade of the twentieth century.

Donkey Photography—"Look Pleasant"

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Sat, 13 Oct 2018 06:14:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Look pleasant" is what the horse/photographer is saying as a donkey and boy pose for a photo.

This is a postcard addressed on the other side to Mrs. Emma Cranford, Lisbon, Ohio, R.F.D. No. 2, and postmarked Wilson, Pa., June 27, 1910.

Handwritten message: "Sun. eve., just closing. All well and have been busy all day. Will write you a letter tomorrow. Got cherries and were fine and many thanks till better paid [I'm not sure of the meaning of this run-on sentence]. Love, Alice & Jno.

On Halloween Be Wary and Look About

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 08 Oct 2018 06:10:04 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

On Hallowe'en be wary and look about
The gobble-uns will git you ef you don't watch out!

A Halloween postcard illustrated by H. B. Griggs. The lines about the "gobble-uns" are from "Little Orphant Annie" (1885), a poem by James Whitcomb Riley.

For another Griggs card, see Have a Devilishly Happy Halloween.