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.

Changes?

 How much do I enjoy posting old photos on this blog.  It started out as a way of organizing an ever growing collection of cabinet cards, snapshots, real photo postcards, and nothing more.   Anyway, as time passed, I came to really enjoy posting my collection.

Fact is, my circa 1998 computer just died.  I picked up a nice, refurbished computer and thought I was well on my way to more and more found photography on the net.  Sadly, while I was able to download the software for my equally old scanner, the new system won't work with that scanner's drivers. (I also wasn't able to retrieve my files.)  Sooner or latter, I'll pick up another scanner.  I've already sent emails to Craig's List sellers, and with any luck I'll pick up something soon.  If not, be patient.  The New Found Photography is down for awhile, with luck, no more than a few days.  But if it's longer than that, rest assured, some day.

In the mean time Fair Use is still up and running.  I've just posted three new photos, with more photographs, paintings, and other assorted web finds to come.

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. 

Jolly Evenings

I'm sticking with collections for the next few days, and this one goes back to May 4, 2013 for the first post from this lot.  To recap, I was offered an envelope of postcards that the seller referred to as a flirtation collection.  Each postcard has a romantic theme, some, like this one, clearly started out as photographs, some as pure illustration, and some...well, let's just say that I use my best judgement as to whether that particular card belongs here, on The New Found Photography, or if it should be posted on Fair Use, a blog I keep for non photographic bits of ephemera and images I've found on the web.

This card was published by The Taylor Art Company, from Philadelphia, PA, in business from 1907-1908.  Not a very successful business.  This one's copyrighted 1908.  I've always been puzzled by the initials M.D.T., in the lower right corner.  T, must by Taylor, but the other letters, who knows.  This card was never sent, and nothing is written on the back.

Click on flirtation in labels to go back and see what's published.  Do the same on Fair Use.

Views of the World, Horseshoe Falls, Niagara, New York

As every Canadian school child knows, Horseshoe Falls are in Ontario, not New York.

Click on Views of the World in labels to bring up the lot.

Views of the World, Hot Spring, Yellowstone National Park

I thought I'd start off the new year by revisiting some of the collections that I've started posting, but have yet to complete.   To recap, The Views of the World Collection goes back to my earliest days of collecting old photographs and postcards.  I turn 60 this month, I started buying old images when I was in high school, so these hand tinted postcards have been following me around for more than forty years.  Sadly, when I picked these up, some of the cards in the series were missing, and despite my best efforts, I've never been able to fill the gaps.

Despite the caption, I'm guessing geyser rather than hot spring.  It also looks like the steam and hot water gushing into the sky weren't suited to whatever method of tinting and printing were available when the card was made.  And while there are no publisher credits, photo credits, writing, or dates on any of them, clearly, they're from the early twentieth century.

Click on Views of the World in labels at the bottom of the post to see the rest.

All Hail The Wine Queen!

Seriously, all hail The Wine Queen, AKA "Lieselotte I, Rudesheimer Weinkonigin 69/70."

Rudesheim am Rhein is a wine making town in the Rhine Gorge in Germany.  Rudesheim, as towns go, isn't all that large.  In 2013, it had a grand total of 9,733 residents.  Despite it's small size, it's the second largest attractant of foreign tourists, in Germany, bettered only by Cologne Cathedral.   The images I saw on line were very picturesque, but I suspect it's the wine festival that packs 'em in.  Every summer, the Wine Queen and her Princesses are chosen for a one year term.  The Queen and her Court represent Rudesheim at other wine festivals.  That's a pretty big wine glass.  I hope the wine royalty don't get pulled over.  I don't think they could pass a breathalyzer test.