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.  

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

Cozy Corner

There's a nice message on the back of this one, "Do You think so.  I don't think you do.  As you did not come up.  Bertha"  It seems Bertha isn't satisfied with her lot in life.  Or at least she's not happy with her friend, Walter.  Addressed to " Mr. Walter Sedgley, Bowdoinham, Me."  Postmarked, "LEWISTON ME.  JAN 25 7-AM 1910." 

This card was published Theodor Eismann, a publisher with offices in New York City and Leipzig, Saxony, in Germany.  They were in business form 1908 to 1914.  I have no idea why they went under, but a trans Atlantic company with offices in Germany and the United States would have had a great deal of trouble functioning in World War 1. 

Click on flirtation in labels to see the lot.  At least what's been published. 

I Feel So Happy When You Are With Me

Unlike the last two posts, this one has a message on the back.  "Dear Friend, I hope you will not be mad because I did not go and see you when I was in Dexter.  But I did not have time to go anywhere from Marguerite."  It was addressed to "Miss Emma Higgins, Dexter, Maine."  And the postmark, "SANGERVILLE ME.  APR 24 1911 5 P.M."

It seems to me that some young swain was taken with Marguerite, but just in case it didn't pan out, he had Emma in reserve.  A lot of the cards in this collection use the word friend as a greeting.  I'm thinking we're dealing with Quakers a courting.

I've still got a lot of cards left in this collection, but they'll have to wait.  It's time to move on to other things.  Click on flirtation in labels to see what's already been posted.

Sunshine, My Sunshine-Not

Gotta love the penciled in editorial comment on the front of the card.  I just wonder, was it "not" in 1908, or was "not" written in by some 21st century cynic.  Anyway, it's nice to have one of these old postcards that actually has a photographers copyright.  I've posted some other cards with a De Witt C. Wheeler credit.  All I've been able to find out about the man was that he made sentimental magic lantern slides, and sold photos to postcard publishers.  This card is part of a series of cards, illustrating lyrics from popular songs, published by Theodor Eismann of Leipzig and New York.  The company was in business form 1908 to 1914.  I have no idea what put them under, but the 1914 date is telling.  I can't imagine an international publishing house surviving World War 1.  While it's true that the United States was neutral until 1917, it's also true we favored the Entente right from the start

Addressed to "Mr. J. Albion Dunlap, West Southport, Me."  And the message, "Wasn't I lucky to get a picture of you and yours.  C.E.D."  There is a postmark, but the town name is too faded to read.  I can make out, "AUG 11 AM 1908"

Bait

For those of us of a certain age, there is a tendency to wonder why modern parents name their kids things like Dakota, Topanga, Madison, and a whole host of other semi-unique names.  I mean, what's wrong with Johnny, Cathy, or Bobby?  And then, I see an old postcard, and I realize  there is nothing new under the sun.  This card was mailed to "Mr. Bowdoin Horn, Stillwater, Maine."  Bowdoin Horn is such a great name.  It belongs in a Sherlock Holmes story.  Mr. Bowdoin Horn, caught robbing the Bank of England, blackmailing the Queen, stealing the crown jewels.

Postmarked, "MILO ME., OCT 18, 1909, 12 AM"  And the message, "Milo, Me., Oct. the 17, 1909, This is what we've got up in Milo but don't let it make you leave home from your friends.  Fred Ree, Milo, Me."

Click on flirtation and all that.

May I Hope

I might as well stick with the flirtation postcards for a bit, as well as posting another image from De Witt C. Wheeler.  As I noted in an earlier Wheeler post, there's not a lotof info about the man floating around out there.  About all I've been able to dig up is that he produced these sentimental type images for the postcard and magic lantern  trade.  This card was addressed to "Miss Nellie Stilson, Guilford, Me., R.F.D. #1"  It's got a faded postmark from 1908, and that's all I can make out.  What's a bit weird is that, even though this card has a divided back for personal messages, there isn't any.  Miss Stilson's suitor must have been somewhat inarticulate.  Or maybe, just maybe, he thought this card spoke for him.

Click on flirtation to bring up the collection, or if you want to edit things a bit, De Witt C. Wheeler.

The Fountain of Love

Is that water bottled?  Written on the back, "How are your dances prospering?  Rec'd yours O. 12.  Your remedy is pretty good but I should wait to practice  it oftener.  Tell that kid brother of yours to wake up.  Vivian"  Mailed to "Mr. Earle Wilbur, Headwater, Maine"  There is a postmark, but it's very faded.  I think it's from Madison, Maine...well, that's just my best guess.  I have checked an atlas, and no Headwater, Maine is listed.  Small towns do disappear, but it's more likely that it was absorbed into a larger community.

And of, course, clicking on flirtation in the labels section will bring up the whole collection.

Sweet Miss Killarney

It's time to return to another collection.  This time, the flirtation postcards, an envelope of early twentieth century cards I purchased, all with a somewhat romantic theme.

I'm always a bit torn when I put up images like this one.  I look at them, and have to make a decision.  Are they based on photographs, or are they pure illustration.  This one was an easy call.  Take a look at the right hand side of the card, and there's a copyright notice, "Photo only copyright 1907.  De Witt C. Wheeler."

There's not a lot on line about Wheeler.  All I was able to find out was that he was American, he specialized in sentimental images for the postcard and magic lantern market, most with added color.  There are a few examples of his work on the George Eastman House website, www.geh.org.  Click on photographers and have a browse.  You'll find his stuff sooner or latter, and while looking, who knows what treasures you'll find.  The main website for Eastman House, a museum endowed by George Eastman, the founder of Kodak, is www.eastmanhouse.org.  It's in Rochester, New York, for those with the time to visit.

As for the rest of it, printed on the back, "Theodor Eisman, Leipzig and New York, Illustrated Song Serie No. 1813/1 By permission of the publishers, Francis, Day & Hunter, New York."  I was able to dig up a bit of info from that.  Theodor Eisman was a card publisher in business from 1908 to 1914.  I wasn't able to confirm my supposition, but I think it's a pretty good bet that a trans-Atlantic postcard company would have been driven out of business by World War 1.  Francis, Day & Hunter, Ltd. was a British publisher of sheet music, with offices in London and New York.  In 1909, they merged with Tin Pan Alley publisher, T. B. Harms, Inc, to become T. B. Harms, Francis, Day & Hunter, Inc.  In 1929 the company was taken over by Warner Bros.  I had hoped to find the lyrics for Sweet Miss Killarney, but, believe it or not, they're not on line.   At least I couldn't find them.

And finally, the card was mailed.  Postmark, "LAKE VIEW, MAINE  JUN 19 2 PM 1908."  It was mailed to "C. W. Ingalls, #5 Cor Main & May Sts., Bangor, Maine"  And the rather short message, "I have not forgot you will write soon. C."

Click on flirtation in the labels section at the bottom of the post to bring up other cards from the collection.

My Family Tree

The seller referred to them as flirtation postcards, an envelope of fifty plus cards, all with a romantic theme.  Needless to say, I won't be posting them all at once.  The ones that are based on photographs will be here, the one that are pure illustration will be on my Fair Use blog.

This card may be a bit flirty, but the message is not.  "Dear Margret, from Albert."  That's it.  I'm thinking poor Albert didn't do too well with the ladies.  There's a second message added on, "P.S. still looking for that letter, Ida."  Addressed to "Miss Margret Bickford, Abbott Vil., ME, RFD."  For those not country enough, RFD stands for Rural Free Delivery.  Yes, you still had to buy a stamp, but the delivery was subsidized so that postal rates were the same as rates within cities, and, like in a city, delivery was to the home of the intended, rather than just to the local post office.  Postmarked, "BANGOR, MAINE FEB 27, 1911, 12:30 PM"

And finally, this is a Theochrom card.  Theochrom was a trade name for the Theodor Eismann Company of Leipzig, Germany and New York, New York.  They were in business from 1908-1914.