Quiet Nooks

Well, it looks like a hand tinted photograph to me.

I've got a number of this style card from The Taylor Art Company, and it seems to me that they send really mixed signals. On one hand, they have a romantic feel to them, but on the other they seem like a confession of cheating.

Written on the back, "April 19, 1909.  from your old sweet heart with love.  A.R. Jr."  Addressed to "Miss Maud M. Billings, No 1 Cleveland St., Hamilton, Maine."  And finally, the postmark, "BANGOR ME. APR 19 11:30 PM '09."  

First of all, why would anyone think that the time on a postmark was important?  Was there a special postal worker whose job was to go around and change the time on all the stamps?  And secondly, this Maud lady shows up on a lot of these cards.  She must have been quite popular.

As usual, click on Flirtation in labels and all that.

A Lot of Hard Work

I have two of these, both mailed, both with messages.  One is addressed to "Miss H. M. Rafford, Hamilton, Me.  It's postmarked, "OURETTE, MAINE, FEB 2 AM 1909."  And the message, '1/28/09 what do you know about this is this what you wanted? Joe."

The other was sent to the ever popular "Miss Maud M. Billings, No 1. Cleveland St., Hamilton, Maine"  The postmark, "BANGOR ME. APR 17, 09, 1:30 PM"  And the message, "Saturday 17, 09.  Hollo dear, I received your nice letter.  I was very please to hear from you.  I will try and write you a letter Sunday, write whenever you have time, yours with love, A.R. Jr."  And yes A.R. did spell it hollo.

As usual, click on flirtation to see more.

Making Rapid Progress

Well, this card sends mixed messages.  Don't worry darling, just in case things don't work out with you, I've got a backstop. No wonder the Taylor Art Company was so short lived.

This one was mailed to "Miss Maud Billings, 81 Cleveland St., Hamilton, Maine."  And the postmark, "BANGOR ME. APR. 21 6:30 PM '09."  And of course, the all important message, "Bangor, Ap 21, Sister, how is everything up your way? Please write soon. From Sister Mike."

More than a few of the cards in this collection use the word "Sister," and I've always assumed it was a religious greeting rather than a familial one.  I'm thinking Quakers, though I'm sure there are other sects that refer to each other as sister and brother.  The Sister Mike is kind of interesting.  Is that Mike like Michelle, or Mike like Michael Learned or Glen Close?  Perhaps a joke from a close male friend who isn't the boyfriend.

Once again, click on flirtation in labels to see more from this collection.