Photos, videos and docs of Alan Mays, with the keywords: "February 14"

Valentine's Day Snow Sculpture, Poultney, Vermont, 1948

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 01:48:02 +0000

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Valentine's Day - hearts, cupids, arrows, love, or what have you?

This real photo postcard features a snow sculpture of Cupid standing next to a heart with an arrow through it. A building is in the background, and two cars are parked along the street in front of the building. Two women are walking near one of the trees on the left.

The card is addressed on the other side to Edith Towey, 1744 Summerfield St., Brooklyn 27, N.Y., and it was postmarked in Poultney, Vermont, on February 13, 1948. The location of the snow sculpture is listed on the verso as "Green Mountain Junior College, Poultney, VT," and a handwritten "Valentine's Greetings" appears above the name of a studio, "H. B. Rood Photo, Poultney, VT."

According to a brief biography by the Poultney Historical Society, Harry B. Rood (1871-1960) lived in Poultney his entire life. He began working in his father's photography studio in the 1890s and continued as a photographer after his father's death.

At the time Rood took this photo, Green Mountain Junior College was a two-year college for women and then became a four-year college for both men and women in 1974, when its name changed to Green Mountain College. Ames Hall, the campus building that appears in the photo, is still standing, but the college itself closed in 2019 after experiencing financial difficulties.

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.

I Want You To Be My Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 05:05:54 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Buster Brown and his dog Tige on a valentine postcard, circa 1907, by cartoonist Richard F. Outcault (1863-1928). For another Buster Brown valentine, see Here's a Wireless Telegram—Be My Valentine.

"I want you to be my valentine. It doesn't seem to be a secret. R. F. Outcault. Raphael Tuck & Sons, Limited. London, Paris, New York, Montreal."

Palisades Hike, February 14, 1915

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 21:06:30 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A photo of day trippers (people on a day out, groups or individuals) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Real photo postcard caption: "Palisades Hike, Feb. 14, '15. #5. E."

Eight individuals appear in this "Palisades Hike" photo taken on February 14, 1915, but I'm not sure exactly what they're doing or which Palisades they're visiting (see a list of possible locations on Wikipedia's Palisades disambiguation page).

The woman in the foreground is carrying an American flag, and the two men on the left are apparently moving rocks around (or looking under them?) as a boy standing in the middle of the stream watches. The others in the background seem to be cautiously making their way over some of the large boulders situated along the other side of the stream.

Perhaps the "#5" designation means that this is the fifth in a series of photos taken that day by a photographer whose name might be indicated by the circled "E." If so, we may have to wait to see if additional photos turn up in order to learn more about these Palisades hikers and the trip they took on Valentine's Day in 1915.

Here's a Wireless Telegram—Be My Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 13 Feb 2018 13:55:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Here's a wireless telegram
That I will send to you
I'm in love with you—I am
I love you 'deed I do
Be my valentine.
R. F. Outcault

Cartoonist Richard F. Outcault (1863-1928) featured Buster Brown and his dog Tige—both of them winking and smiling—in this valentine from 1904.

Will You Be My Socialist Valentine?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 04:53:30 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"To my valentine. I'm a socialist, will you be one? Free drinks, free money, free love. Ellam."

Postmarked Saginaw West Side, Mich., Feb. 4, 1911, and addressed to Ward Brown, 820 North Mason, Saginaw West Side.

Handwritten message: "I hope you are as I am and don't forget that day. You know and I know, and why should we forget it."

Artist-signed postcard by William Ellam.

I Surrender My Heart and My Love for Thee

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:50:46 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Although this postcard--with a postmark dated February 13, 1911--is intended to convey a patriotic sentiment, the idea of Cupid kneeling down and holding up what appears to be a still-steaming heart makes it feel too much like a sacrificial offering to me.

To My Valentine
To the banner above
I surrender with glee,
My heart and my love;
Dearest Sweetheart for thee.

Votes for Women Valentine—No Votes, No Hearts

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 20:10:15 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A die-cut Valentine greeting card with a suffragette girl giving a soapbox speech about women's voting rights. It wasn't until the ratification of the Nineteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution in 1920 that all women in the United States had the right to vote.

For another copy of this card, see "No Votes No Hearts," Comic Valentine, ca. 1910-1920 over on Flickr.

Votes for Women—No Votes, No Hearts.

If words could tell of all the love within this heart of mine.
I'd keep on speaking till I'd won you for my Valentine.

Magic Ray Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 22:03:48 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An Art Deco mechanical valentine (moving the cape causes the arms to move up and down) from the 1930s. Sort of scary--hope she was able to escape!

You built a wall
So fast and strong,
But with my magic ray
It won't last long!

Queen of the Universe Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 22:03:50 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An Art Deco mechanical valentine (moving the arm causes the eyes to move back and forth) from the 1930s. This reminds me of Slim Pickens riding the bomb down to the ground at the end of Dr. Strangelove.

"Queen of the Universe"
We seem so far apart--
Please aim your trusty rocket
Directly for my heart!

See also Magic Ray Valentine:

A Valentine Game of Hearts

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 01 Feb 2016 22:25:24 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A Valentine's Day postcard dated 1909 on the front and postmarked Burlington, Vt., Feb. 13, 1911, on the back.

Cupids play football with hearts, as we see here (above), but they also use them in bowling (below).

And, of course, cupids need to maintain their stock of hearts, which may require sweeping, netting, weighing, and mending, as we can see in this selection of early twentieth-century postcards (below).

You're Out of This World, Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 16:02:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"You're out of this world, my valentine."

A space-themed Valentine's Day "lollipop card" manufactured by the E. Rosen candy company. The card has perforations--barely visible here--that originally folded out to hold the stick of a lollipop.

It's a "Snap" to Love You Valentine (Detail)

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 22:50:38 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

See also the full version of this valentine:

It's a "Snap" to Love You Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Tue, 11 Feb 2014 22:50:40 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A St. Valentine's Day or love photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Mouse over the image to see an enlargement of the top portion of the card.

"It certainly is a 'snap' to love you" is the caption for this valentine, which includes an attached photograph--a snapshot, of course--to deliver it's punning message.

The photo shows a young girl who's wearing headphones (or perhaps some kind of radio headset--are those antennas extending from each side?), and she appears to be startled by what she's hearing.

It's not obvious why the card publisher chose the girl's photo for this valentine. Was she a child actress? Were the headphones new and trendy? It's certainly not a snap to figure out!

Statue of Liberty Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:53:02 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"To one I love."

See also Brooklyn Bridge Valentine.

Motorcycle Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 12 Feb 2014 21:02:51 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

This valentine was incomplete when I bought it--there's no greeting or caption--but I thought it was interesting anyway. Perhaps the missing sentiment was "You quack me up, valentine."

You Teach Each Little Elf More Than You Know Yourself

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 09 Feb 2015 21:55:46 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

An insulting "vinegar valentine" for schoolteachers.

Schoolmistress

You teach each little elf
More than you know yourself;
And talk like a petticoat college;
To spank the little boys
Is the greatest of your joys;
'Tis thus you preside at the seat of knowledge.

For another example of a vinegar valentine, see Wretched Typo the Printer.

The Same Old Wheeze

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Thu, 06 Feb 2014 21:32:53 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

A folded die-cut Valentine's Day greeting card with an inside message of "Be my valentine."

To My Matchless Valentine

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 21 Mar 2014 22:53:00 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

To My Matchless Valentine

Cupid's Matches. Warranted to kindle love's flame. Strike here.

Tho' you may have set these all alight,
My heart is safe you know;
For that has been aflame for you
Sweetheart, long long ago.

--------

Miss Violet Glossenger, Cortez, Pa.

Hello Violet, Your postal received and I thought I would answer it being so near to "Valentines Day." Have you had any sleighing over there? We have had a little bit. Well goodbye from that rascal of a Milton C.

My Heart Has Turned from Red to Grey

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 19:50:38 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

My heart has turned from red to grey
And is heavy as lead on account of you;
For it's loved you long, and it's loved you true,
And your coldness has turned it a dismal hue.

(This handmade greeting card isn't really a vinegar valentine--it's downright sulfuric!)