More Later

 

I've been putting up a lot of stuff from some of the collections I have, so I decided to go to the oldest unfinished collection I have.  It goes back to 2013, so I'm still working on it 10 years later.  As a rule, I don't bother with the backs of postcards.  I find it easier to just transcribe the written message and spare people from trying to figure out bad to mediocre handwriting.  But in this case, no matter how large I blew up the back of the card, or how much I manipulated the contrast, I just couldn't make out what was written. There's one line that I think says "my girlfriend left yesterday," but other than that, I haven't a clue.  And I thought my handwriting was bad. Anyway, click on "flirtation" in labels to go back to the good old days of 2013.  And I call it that because the guy who sold me the envelope of these postcards said it was his flirtation card collection. Too, if a postcard looks like it was based on a photo it ends up here.  If it looks like it's pure illustration, it ends up on my Fair Use blog. If I'm not sure, it's just a best guess as to which blog. 

Those Spring Chicks

  

It's time to return to my longest ongoing, incomplete collection that dates back to 2013.  Anyway, I bought an envelope of postcards that the seller told me were flirtation cards.  At the time I thought that was just his name for them but as it turned out that's how postcards like these were actually marketed, so click on Flirtation in labels to see what's already up.  Too, I have another blog, Fair Use where I post non-photographic bits of ephemera I've picked up over the years as well as interesting images I've gleaned from the net.  There are a few cards that were clearly based on drawings that were posted there.  If I think something is based on a photograph, but if I'm not 100% sure, I lean towards photos, so they end up on The New Found Photography. 

So, as a rule, I don't publish the backs of postcards.  If there is anything written or relevant captions, I just type them up.  However, I'm beginning to think there might be some time travel involved here.  Since I entered the computer age and started typing everything my handwriting has gone from fairly good to barely legible, and A.A.'s penmanship is worse than mine and that's saying a lot.  So, after scanning the back, blowing it up, and after some scrutiny, I came up with this very unlikely interpretation, "Friend Harry.  I got the card & it was slick just the one I was looking for."  Okay, so far so good.  But after that, "I havent got time off an lobster with yes had some. Jane was pretty classy to How did the classes come out.  Yours truely, A.A."  I just don't get the whole stuff about the lobster.  

Anyway, a lot of these cards use the word friend and I've always had the suspicion that they were circulated among Maine Quakers.  Enough of the postmark is gone that I can't be sure where it was mailed from, but it was mailed in December 1912.  

At Home

 

Just started digging in the box of loose photos when I found this old postcard.  Believe it or not, it's part of the longest-running collection on The New Found Photography.  The very first image dates back to 2013.  This will be number 41 in the series.  There are also some images that are based on drawings rather than photographs and are posted on my Fair Use blog.  They're all under Flirtation in labels at the bottom of the post.  The person who sold these postcards to me called them his flirtation collection.  At first, I thought it was just a name he used to help in selling, but there was an episode of The Murdoch Mysteries that was built around flirtation cards, given out as a means to attract the opposite sex, so it looks like flirtation cards were a real thing, if not one hell of a coincidence.  

So, written on the back, "Dear Sister, how are you all and all the friends.  I am here in dreary land and have got a terrible cold write soon Love you all sister Brie.  38 Ervin St."  I've noticed that friends is a word that's often used in these cards, so I've always thought that there were a lot of Quakers sending the cards in this collection.  The card was mailed to "Mrs Arthur G. Brown, 547 West 164 St., New York City."  The postmark, "NORWALK CONN, SEP 21, 5-PM 1908." 

Obviously, click on Flirtation in labels to bring up the other cards in this collection. 

Mister Moon Is Watching From Above

Well this one has a photo copyright for De Witt C. Wheeler, so there's no confusion about the origins of the actual image on the card.  Of course, I do concede that the moon is clearly an illustrated addition.

There is a written message on the back.  "Jan 20 th.  Friend Orin, There is a good theatre over to skowhegan next Mon. tues. & wed. will it be so you can come down tues. if so and you can come on the 2 oclock train I will come to the station when I get off C.E.P." The card was mailed to "Mr Orin Dolan, Salon, Me."  And the postmark, the name of the town has worn off, but the date's still there.  "1910, JAN 20 1 P.M. ME."

Anyway, De Witt Wheeler has made more than one appearance in this collection, so in addition to clicking on Flirtation in labels, De Witt C. Wheeler cards can also be seen by clicking on his name.

I Have Only Nine

Talk about a never ending project.  Way back in 2013 I bought an envelope full of very old postcards that the seller referred to as the flirtation collection.  Basically, most of the cards had a romantic theme.  Some were obviously based on photographs, and those are posted on this blog.  Pure illustration are on my Fair Use blog.  Betwixt and between is a best guess. All are tagged flirtation in labels, at the bottom of the post, so that other cards can easily referenced..

Despite the assurances of the seller, I'm not sure I view this one as all that romantic.  Still it's part of the collection.  As a rule, I don't post the backs of cards, but I liked the publishers logo.  Bamford & Company opened for business in 1870 and finally went of business in 1990, which is a very long time for a postcard publisher.  They opened their New York offices in 1906, so the one thing we can know is that this card was published after that date.  Gotta love the old studio camera.

Soul Kiss

Alright, as far as the whole photo based cards go here and illustrated cards go the Fair Use blog...well, not 100% sure on this one, but my best guess is that this one started life as a photo, so for better or worse, it's The New Found Photography for this Soul Kiss

Anyway, the postmark on this card has been smudged so I don't know when it was mailed, but most of the cards from this collection have been around 1910 to 1911, so that seems like a good timeline.

The message on the back, "this is your Martin and on the other side sunday it raining and I am so long Maude if you only new you would come and see me  M.L.J."  And yes,  the small T, S, the spelling of  knew as new, and the odd wording are how it's written.  And the addressee, "Mrs. Maude Tracy, Augusta, Maine, R.F.D. no. 3."  So, is Maude Tracy and the Maud Billings of earlier cards the same person?  If so, she's quite the coquette.  All the guys seem to long for her.

As usual, click on Flirtation in labels to see more cards from this collection.

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.

May Time Is Play Time

This is the collection that never ends.  I've been doling it out since 2013, and I've still got plenty of these cards to go.  To recap, I bought an envelope of postcards from a dealer who called it the flirtation collection.  (Click on flirtation in labels to see other cards from the envelope.)  Those cards that are either photographs or are based on photos get posted here.  There are a few cards that look like illustration, so those end up on my Fair Use blog.   I'm not going to go into the history of the publisher, Theodor Eismann, but, info on Theo can be found on other posts.

This card was used.  The message, "Dear Etta, I have intended to write you a letter but I have been so busy I couldn't find time to write to any body.  How is everything at Kingfield.  Write when you can.  Love Edna.  Hebron Academy,  Hebron Maine."   Mailed to "Mrs. Anis Vose, Kingfield, Maine."  And no, I have no idea how Anis became Etta.  And, the postmark, "HEBRON ME., JAN 5 9 AM, 1912."  No indication whether Edna was a student or teacher at the Hebron Academy.

Now, about Hebron Academy.  I confess, when I Googled the school, I didn't expect much, but was surprised by what I found.  Hebron, both the town and the school, were founded by revolutionary war veterans who were granted land in recompense for their military service.  At the time, Maine was still an unincorporated territory of Massachusetts.  The  Hebron Academy admits students from the sixth through twelfth grade, and is one of the oldest private schools in the United States.  It was chartered in 1804 and opened to students in 1805.  It's a coed boarding school that also accepts local day students.  It  has accepted both girls and boys since it opened.  During the nineteenth century students ranged in age from ten to the thirties. Today, enrollment is capped at 300 students.  Fifty percent of students are from other countries.  Forty percent are from China.  Some of the graduates have included Leon Leonwood Bean.  Yes, that L.L. Bean.  Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln's first Vice President.  And finally, in a category all his own, George Lincoln Rockwell, founder of the American Nazi Party.  .  

One Damn Fool

There was a time, many years ago, when I had beautiful cursive handwriting.  Then, typing entered my life.  At first it was an old Olivetti, which I still have even though it doesn't work, and then it was computer keyboards.  Now my handwriting is a barely readable scrawl.  As a rule, I don't publish the back of cards.  I just type out the message and that's it, but who ever sent this card had bad handwriting without the excuse of years seated at a keyboard, so have at it.

As usual, click on flirtation in labels, yada, yada, yada.

Be Careful of What You Do

I've posted a few cards from photographer De Witt C. Wheeler before.  Near as I can tell, his career was limited to taking sentimental photos used for glass lantern slides, postcards, and the Nickelodeon market.  Basically, there was dead space between reels, so one of Wheeler's images would get a minute or two of screen time to keep the audience entertained.

In addition to the brief comment penciled above the caption, there's a message on the back, "Jan 11th, 1910.  I was glad to hear from you.  Come down any time and I will give you a great time.  I am on 10-7 this week 2-10 next.  Any time you come down you will find me at Frank Harding's or the mill.  C.E.D."  The card's addressed to "Mr. Orin Delon, Solon. Me."  And the postmark, "MADISON 1910 JAN 11 8 AM ME."

There were a lot of textile mills in Maine, and a lot of the mill workers were women, so was C.E.D. a woman asking her boyfriend to come on down for a visit, or was C.E.D. a man and inviting his pal down to raise some hell?

Once again, from the illustrated song series.  Click on flirtation labels to see more, or De Witt C. Wheeler just for his photos.  And need I say it, the moon was drawn in?

Don't Weep or Sigh

No, this collection is not a never ending project.  Away back in 2013, I bought an envelope of postcards that the seller referred to as his flirtation set.  (Click on flirtation in labels to see other cards.)  Most are based on photographs, some are pure illustration, which get posted on my Fair Use blog, and some, well I can't be 100% certain, so I use my best judgement on which blog gets the post.
This one's pretty easy, since it has a photo credit on the border.  Scott and Van Altena were partners who produced images form postcards, and primarily, lantern slides that showed between movies at early nickelodeons.  Edward Van Altena was the photographer, and John Duer Scott was the colorist.
This card was published by Theodor Eismann, and it's from the illustrated song series, cards that used lyrics from popular songs as the caption.  And when this card was made, that could mean either 78 RPM records or sheet music.

This card was never used.

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.

This Is A Ripping Place

More mixed messages from the Taylor Art Company.  For the life of me, I can't figure out what they're trying to say.  I've found a hot lady for fun and games, or I'm thinking that this is what things will be like when I get home.  The ripping place seems to say I'm having fun.

Not sent, nothing written on the back, click on flirtation in labels to see other cards in the collection.

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.

Don't Worry, Yours

 

A long time ago I bought an envelope of postcards that the seller called his flirtation collection.  Every card had some sort of romantic theme.  I posted the first one in May, 2013, and I've still got more to go.  Some are photographs, some are based on photos, and some are pure illustration.  The illustrated ones get posted on my Fair Use blog.  If I'm not sure, I go with my best guess.

This one was never mailed and was published by The Taylor Art Company of Philadelphia, Pa.  They were in business from 1907 to 1909.  Click on flirtation in labels to see the rest of the collection.

You Are Always Welcome

This is one of those betwixt and between things.  I'm about 90% certain that the central image is based on a photograph, which means I've got a 10% doubt that it might be illustration.  Anyway, 90 trumps 10 so photo blog it is.  This was mailed to "Miss Annie B. York, 47 Howard St., Portland, Me."  Postmark, "BOSTON NOV 12 11-AM 1910."  And the message, "Boston, Mass, Nov 11, 10.  Why are you so silent, G.M.B."   Poor guy.  G.M.B. wants to be remembered, and assured that Annie hasn't found someone else.

Click on flirtation in labels to see more from this collection.  I've still got plenty more to go, but I'll be leaving this lot for other things.  Maybe, if I remember, there'll be more in a month or so.

For I Love You, My Virginia

The same thing as the last post.  An un-mailed, divided back card with the exact same caption.  Does that mean it's from the same card, or just the same song catalog?  Click on flirtation in labels to see more cards from this particular collection.

I Am Coming Home To Wed You

This one has a photo credit, Scott & Van Altena, two partners, photographer and colorist, who provided genre scenes for postcards and nickelodeons. Click on Scott and Van Altena in labels to  get some more info on the pair.

Anyway, this card is from a series of illustrated song lyrics.  "Theodor Eismann, Leipzig and New York, Illustrated Song Serie No. 1828/2. Words and Music copyrighted by Chas. K. Harris, New York 1907. Words used by permission of the publisher."

 Yes, it is serie, not series.  I looked it up in my dictionary from the 1920's and it means the same as series.  So why does a word that exists, has been used for centuries, is not known by my computer?  Spell check insists that it isn't a word.  Personally I think we're entering a digital dark ages where anything that the guys in Silicon Valley don't like, recognize, or value just get deleted from history.

This card was never used. Click on flirtation in labels to see other postcards from this collection.

Bending Low, Her Hand He Takes

It's been awhile since I've put up anything from this collection, so I'd better recap.  A few years ago I bought an envelope full of postcards that the seller referred to as his flirtation collection.  Some of the cards clearly started life as photographs.  Those are posted on The New Found Photography.  Others are illustrations and are posted on my other blog, Fair Use, www.fairuse-wjy.blogspot.com.  Of course, there are a few I'm not sure of, and those come down to best guess.  So, click on flirtation in labels at the bottom of the post to see more.  That'll work on Fair Use as well.

This card was mailed to "Mr Geo. W. Layr, Union, Maine, R.D. 3."  Even though the card has a divided back, there was no message.  It's post marked "WALDSBORO ME. MAY 16 10 AM 1911."  It was published by Theochrom, owned by Theodor Eismann.

An Armfull Of Correspondence

Well it only took a week to replace my 17 year old computer and 15 year old scanner.  The color is a little off, so I'll have to work on that.  But then again, it's less off the the original unit.  This one's another postcard from the Taylor Art Company.  I don't know if Taylor intended for their customers to write in names on those white lines, but I've seen people do just that thing.

Click on flirtation in labels to see more.