Dogs and Cats in Vintage Photos

"Mein erster Schultag" ("My first day of school"). Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Ostern 1966" ("Easter 1966"). Schultüten (school cones), miniature Easter baskets, and a stuffed first-day-of-school toy dog? Evidently these boys began their school career around Eastertime in 1966. For additional examples of these conical first-day-of-school gifts, see the Schultüte - School Cone group.

A handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard says, "For dear little Gilbert from uncle John, aunt Sue, Pat, and Spottie cat with lots of love and kisses ." Unfortunately, there's no address or postmark on the card, and I don't have any additional information regarding the location of Cozy Nook Farm or the identity of Gilbert and his aunt and uncle. You've probably already noticed that Uncle John is holding Pat the dog. But have you spotted Spottie the cat yet? If not, mouse over the image above to see where Spottie is located .

That's Gilbert's Aunt Sue with Spottie the cat perched on her shoulder, and Uncle John is holding Pat the dog. Check out the full version of this real photo postcard:

Handwritten caption: "Muttie the Acrobatic Cat."

"While dressed up in my very best, I wish you luck and all the rest." Postmarked: Tunbridge Falls, 27 Sep 13. Addressed to: Miss Hornsby, c/o Mrs. Fail, 180 Upper Grosvenor Road, Tunbridge Falls. Message: "Dear Joyce, I expect you are very glad your birthday has come. I hope you will have a very happy one. Lots of love and kisses from Auntie Mary." The previous owner of this real photo postcard referred to the distinguished Edwardian feline as "Sir Reginald Pussycat."

"The Lititz Express." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Souvenir, July 4, 1907. Power demonstration on Express Printing Company's float." Evidently, the Lititz Express , a newspaper published until the 1930s in Lititz, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, printed this punning illustration with a press on board its Fourth of July parade float in 1907. I've heard of souvenir printings "on the ice" for frost fairs when the River Thames in London froze over in past centuries, and I have some menus and other items that were printed aboard ships during cruises, but I can't recall seeing anything else printed during a parade. Has anyone else encountered any other examples of printing on ice, parade float, ship, train, plane, automobile, or in any other unique circumstances?

Do you have ideas for future topics for the Vintage Photos Theme Park ? If so, please add them to the Suggestion Box ! A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of cats (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . "Looking through the news you may see something which might interest you. I will send the papers to you. J.R." A real photo postcard with a cat that's literally looking through a newspaper in 1906. For another postcard with a similar punning message, see Breaking the News, Lititz Express, July 4, 1907 .

Or training it how to sit in a chair?

Detail showing a close-up of the cat. For the full photo, see Scolding the Cat? (below).

For another photo of this cat and its owner, see Scolding the Cat? (below).

Cats for the ABC Group (4/14/2017). See also the full version of this real photo postcard.

See also a cropped version of this real photo postcard.

"A Cat in a Knot in a Tree." Hmm, wasn't that the title of one of Dr. Seuss's early books?

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of cats (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . I'm not sure what to make of this snapshot of a white-robed figure reclining on a sofa along with a black cat. "Keith Richards' Mother" is the irreverent caption written on the other side of the photo by the antiques dealer who sold it to me. For another example of the precaptioned pictures that I bought from this dealer over the years, see Grandma's Last Step .

Dressed up for "Halloween" in the Vintage Photos Theme Park . I found this photo at an antique co-op in western Pennsylvania a couple of years ago. I was able to determine the month and year--October 1916--from the Mellon National Bank calendar that's hanging on the wall.

"All my dreams came true." Info on the back of this postcard: "Genuine Frees Animal Series. Photographs of real live pets. No. 765. Christmas Comics. 6 designs....Publ'd by the Nyce Manufacturing Co., Vernfield, Pa." This printed postcard reproduces a photo by Harry Whittier Frees (1879-1953), who posed cats, dogs, and other animals in amusing scenes like this for magazines, books, and other publications. Mary L. Weigley's fascinating article, " Introducing Harry Whittier Frees, World-Famous Animal Photographer ," which originally appeared in Pennsylvania Heritage , Spring 2014, describes how Frees captured these images: "Frees's photographs were uncommon because he used live animals and no tricks were involved... He attired them in dresses, work uniforms, smocks, shawls, robes, and aprons made by his mother or his housekeeper Annie Edelman. The clothes were held in place by pins so the animals could be quickly dressed and undressed. They were then posed in human situations--ironing clothes, cooking on an old-fashioned cast-iron stove, hanging laundry, playing a piano, pumping water, even casting votes in a wooden ballot box! The work was challenging, time-consuming, and nerve-wracking. It caused Frees so much anxiety that he photographed his furry subjects for only three months a year." Weigley's article goes on to tell about the popularity of Frees's photos and his success in publishing books (such as Animal Mother Goose, with Characters Photographed from Life , which came out in 1921) and providing illustrations for magazines, advertisements, and picture postcards. Sadly, though, Frees died alone and ended up in an unmarked grave (check out the article for the full story). His imaginative photos, however, continue to delight us today. Here's another postcard from the "Christmas Comics" series:

"Here's hoping Santa won't forget you. Santa Claus Warehouse." Info on the back of this postcard: "Genuine Frees Animal Series. Photographs of real live pets. No. 765. Christmas Comics. 6 designs....Publ'd by the Nyce Manufacturing Co., Vernfield, Pa." This printed postcard reproduces a photo by Harry Whittier Frees (1879-1953), who posed cats, dogs, and other animals in amusing scenes like this. For additional information about Frees, see All My Christmas Dreams Came True :