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

Acquaintance Card Confidential

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 18 May 2020 02:29:02 +0000

An acquaintance card dating to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century.

If you look closely, you'll see that the printer mistakenly used a "u" instead of an "n" to spell "and." I had to read through the text a couple of times before I even noticed the error.

Confidential

Miss: If you desire to form my acquaintance, please state time and place on blank space.

The Saucy Little Bird on Nellie's Hat

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 30 Mar 2016 18:35:06 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"'100 and 23 for yours,' said the saucy little bird on Nellie's hat. Love's Young Dream."

The illustration on this postcard is based on a song, "The Bird on Nellie's Hat," that was popular when the card appeared in 1908, and the title of the book that Nellie is reading–Love's Young Dream–is a phrase that comes from the lyrics to the song.

The bird's snide utterance–"100 and 23 for yours"–to the guy who's lurking behind Nellie is a reference to the "23 skidoo" fad that started around 1906 or 1907. Telling someone "23 skidoo" or "23 for you" was a shorthand way of saying "scram," "beat it," or "get lost" (I'm not sure whether the addition of "100 and" to the more typical "23 for yours" phrase had any extra meaning). For more "23 skidoo" postcards, see my Skidoos and Lemons album.

Check out the sheet music for The Bird on Nellie's Hat (1906), which is part of the Lester S. Levy Collection of Sheet Music at Johns Hopkins University, or go to YouTube to see the lyrics and hear an Edison wax cylinder recording of Ada Jones singing "The Bird On Nellie's Hat" (1913).

Easter Bunny Photographer

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 20 Mar 2015 20:00:03 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Easter Greetings." Postmarked Herman, Pa., March 22, 1913, on back.

Dogs Bursting with Best Wishes

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 15:55:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Ye Gilded Boob

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Wed, 29 Jan 2014 15:46:37 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Ye Gilded Boob. / You think that you are: just it, / With your monocle [kid gloves] and ten-dollar hat."

A vinegar valentine that pokes fun at pretentious fools. The reference to a "ten-dollar hat" may come from the saying, "He wears a ten-dollar hat on a five-cent head," suggesting that an expensive hat can't make up for a lack of intelligence.

For a similar valentine, see Oh! You Lobster.

Mr. Peanut Bookmark: Greetings from the World's Fair, 1939

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 21:43:08 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

Planters Nut and Chocolate Company

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Fri, 10 Jan 2014 21:43:49 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"Shepard Stern, representing Planters Nut and Chocolate Company, Suffolk, Va., Atlanta, Ga., Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Planters Peanuts, 5¢."

"Reminder! Order Planters Peanuts. Thank you."

What Have You Found Now, Christopher Columbus?

nobody@ipernity.com (Alan Mays) — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:40:01 +0000

Alan Mays has posted:

"At the World's Fair. Uncle Sam--What have you found now, Christopher? Columbus--Ah! At Last we have discovered 'solid comfort.'"

Sign: "Re:Marks on Solid Comfort."

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Text on back of trade card:

If you want "solid comfort" you must have a Marks Adjustable Folding Chair. It combines in one a handsome parlor, library, smoking, and reclining chair, a perfect lounge and full length bed, and is altogether the best chair in the wide, wide world. In construction it is simple, durable, and elegant. Are you interested to know more about it.

Catalogues fully illustrating the Marks Chair as well as a most complete line of invalids rolling chairs, invalid and library supplies will be furnished free on application to: Marks Adjustable Folding Chair Co., Ltd., sole proprietors and manufacturers, 930 Broadway, New York, and 215 Wabash Avenue, Chicago, Ill. Frank E. Marks, pres., R. K. Thompson, sec. & treas. Philadelphia agents, John Wanamaker. San Francisco agents, Burr Folding Bed Co.

Bigelow Lith. Co., Springfield, Mass.