Real Photo Postcards

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 photo of faith, hope, and charity for the Vintage Photos Theme Park (any one of these themes or all 3, post up to 3 photos) . A real photo postcard of children who are standing around a fountain and displaying their patriotism and faith by saluting a flag and cross at Bible School Park, which was located in Johnson City, New York. A posting on the Davis College History blog (see Shall We Gather at the Fountain? ) reprints this same photo and explains that the fountain was originally built as part of an amusement park. The Practical Bible Training School later bought the park, and today it's the site of Davis College , a Bible college. A second blog posting (see Postcard of the Front Drive of PBTS Looking to Riverside ) shows another postcard and a contemporary view of where the fountain stood.

I haven't been able to locate any information regarding this jazzy bunch of musicians. "Susquehanna," though, suggests an association with the Susquehanna River , which flows through Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland. Or perhaps they were students at Susquehanna University , which is located in Selinsgrove, Pa.

See also the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

It's Party Time (Happy Birthday VPTP) . I propose a taffy pulling party to celebrate the third anniversary of the Vintage Photos Theme Park! These folks will show us how it's done! For more on taffy pulls and similar get-togethers, see Candy Stew, Candy Pull, and Other Pull Parties , a posting on culinary historian Patricia Bixler Reber's Researching Food History - Cooking and Dining blog. See also the full version of this real photo postcard.

A Wild Wild West photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Western Photo Gallery, 215 Smithfield St., Pittsburgh, Pa." Note the signs painted on the backdrop: "No trust, no bust," "Dead Man's Gulch Saloon," "Reward, dead or alive, Bad Dick, $5000.00, Sheriff," and "Poker." Ironically, the Western Photo Gallery, which provided the dramatic photo of these gun-toting dudes in their cowboy outfits, was located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania--almost as far east in the U.S. as you can get!

"Apr. 16 '11. Here is a Easter chicken. Easter greetings to Bertha from Clifford."

A photo of donkey rides for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Printed on the back of this souvenir real photo postcard: "Paul Goerke & Son, Manitou, Colo. Duplicates 10 cents each. Order by number on the picture." Handwritten note on the back: "Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Englar, Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Snader at Garden of the Gods , Colorado, 1914." See also a close-up of the women and men .

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard.

"Looking for an order." Although I don't know for certain, I suspect that this real photo postcard may have been created by a salesman for use in communicating with customers.

This real photo postcard shows Amish and non-Amish men on a farm (notice the silos on the left). Although there's no identifying information on the card, it's likely that this photo was taken sometime in the 1940s or 1950s at an auction or sale in Big Valley (also known as Kishacoquillas Valley ), which is located in Mifflin County , Pennsylvania.

Mouse over the image above to see a close-up of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Davidson . This real photo postcard doesn't bear a stamp or postmark but was addressed to: "Jessie Warner, Croton, Ohio." Handwritten message: "April 10, 1914. Dear Jessie, We wish you many more happy birthdays. Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Davidson, Croton." If you have any interest in vintage photos like this that show people posing in front of their homes, please consider joining my new group Vintage House-Proud People . Here are some more examples of this kind of photo:

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

A photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten date at top right: "Aug. 5, 1923."

See also the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

An airship photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park. See also the full version of this real photo postcard.

Photomontage in a tall-tale or exaggeration photo for the theme of photographic tricks and amusements during the free-for-all week of Wild Card Month in the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "Some Good Size Murphys." Giant potatoes created by an unidentified photographer.