Strange and Unusual

An odd double-exposure photo of a bricked-over baby carriage that's more amusing than ghostly. See the cropped version for additional information.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of flawed memories (photos that are damaged, faded, or have other imperfections, especially ones in which the flaws somehow enhance the image; this includes photos with defective processing, light leakage, and double exposures) . A spooky CDV with an unidentified faceless family. Perhaps their faces were somewhat washed out in the original photo, but they may also have been intentionally rubbed out afterwards. Take a gander at a cropped version of the CDV for a closer look at the family's faint facial features. For another faceless photo, see Who's the Dummy Now?

A close-up of a faceless family foursome on a nineteenth-century CDV. See also the full photo .

This vinegar valentine is a postcard that was addressed to H. W. Booser, 13th Street, Harrisburg, Pa. The card was postmarked first in Lewisberry, Pa., and then a second time in Harrisburg, Pa., on Feb. 14, 1908. Although the postcard was sent anonymously with no message or signature, it's possible that the recipient recognized the sender by the postmark or through the handwriting of the address. As it turns out, Harry W. Booser lived at 121 N. 13th Street in Harrisburg, and he worked as a salesman, so the vinegary humor of the card was apparently directed at him. The Salesman His motto is still do or die And he nags you until you must buy. His line is complete And his nerve hard to beat But sometimes he goes on the fly. Signs, etc., in illustration: Office. This is our busy day. Samples. This way out. 85% discount to jobbers. Expense account.

A small double-exposure photo that was intended to make this fellow look like he had two heads.

No, probably not the Watusi . She has one eye closed, a hand on her hip, the other on her head, her left foot's out, and she may be shaking it all about. I think it could be the Hokey Pokey —that might be what it's all about! In any case, this was my strike a pose runner-up for this week's Vintage Photos Theme Park.

Yet another Halloween photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A real photo postcard with a Halloween portrait of kids (including twins?), a cat, and a jack-o'-lantern all posing on the front porch (see also a cropped version of the photo). The family sent this as a Christmas greeting (notice the decorative holly leaves and berries added at the bottom) to Miss Geneva B. Haley, Cornish, Maine. The card was postmarked in Brunswick, Maine, on December 17, 1943. Handwritten message on the other side: "Yours was a lovely card. Peter read it to the other children. It's their favorite Christmas carol. Greetings from all, Cecil & Marion." I don't recall ever seeing any other Halloween-themed Christmas cards.

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

For a better view of the cavorting couple on the ground, see the cropped version of this real photo postcard.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park topic of awkward family photos (vintage photos of odd, embarrassing, or amusing scenes from your own family's history or someone else's) . After the cavorting couple overturned the bench they were sitting on, everyone in camp stopped what they were doing to watch as the two of them continued their awkward antics on the ground. "Black Diamond Camp" is painted on the side of the bench, but I haven't been able to determine where it might have been located. See also the full version of this real photo postcard. Another photo— Footrace Photo Finish? —that I purchased along with this one may show some of the same individuals.

I chose photographic tricks and amusements for the free-for-all (post as many photos on as many different themes as you'd like) during the fifth week of Wild Card Month—Pick Your Own Theme! in the Vintage Photos Theme Park. On the left-hand side of this photo, we see a woman taking a bite out of an apple offered to her by a man—shades of Adam and Eve! On the right, we see the same couple, and they've noticed the other version of themselves—the woman is pointing in their direction and the man is looking over at them. According to the typed label attached to the back, this is a photo of "Mr. & Mrs. Emerson Clover, Central Park, Whittier, California, March 31, 1921." I haven't uncovered any information regarding how Emerson J. Clover (1854-1926) and his wife, Alice K. Clover (1864-1947) created this trick photo, but the double exposure is well done. Central Park in Whittier, California, still exists. Part of a circular fountain or other structure in the park is visible beyond the tree. See also the full version of the photo, which is mounted on cardboard.

The full photo as mounted on a cardboard backing. For more information, see the cropped version .

Dr. Andrew Aikens Wasson (1844-1918) used this billhead in his dental practice in York, Pennsylvania, in the 1890s. I can't quite decipher the handwriting to determine what service he provided for Lewis Shriver on April 22, 1893, but it's notable, I suppose, that it only cost $10.00. A unique part of the billhead is the star-shaped logo that includes Wasson's portrait, a heart, a pair of pointing hands (manicules), and—yikes!—two extracted teeth (see a cropped version for a better view of the design). "Dr. A. A. Wasson, Dr. Dental Surgeon, 214 W. Market Street. Terms cash. York, Pa., April 22, 1893. Mr. Lewis Shriver. [????], $10.00. Rec'd payment, A. A. Wasson, D.D.S."

A portrait of Dr. Andrew Aikens Wasson (1844-1918), a dentist from York, Pennsylvania, is the main feature of this star-shaped logo from the billhead he used in the 1890s. The design also includes a heart, a pair of pointing hands (manicules), and—holy molar!—two extracted teeth. For the full billhead, see Dr. A. A. Wasson Billhead, Dental Surgeon, York, Pa., April 22, 1893 .

A woman fans herself as a man encroaches on her personal space while they are both perched dangerously on top of a giant key in this amusing image from an early twentieth-century postcard. Caption: "You have the key that fits my heart."

A photo of hair—in all its glory or eccentricity for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. On the glorious-eccentric scale for hair styles, this girl's hair seems to me to fall a little toward the eccentric side. There are no clues on the photo to provide any information about the girl's identity or location, but one interesting detail is the small Red Cross pinback button that she's wearing on her dress. The Cyko stamp box on the back of this real photo postcard suggests a date of either 1904-1908 (according to Playle's ) or 1920-1928 (according to Metropostcard.com ). My runners-up for this week's theme include the following previously posted images of: -- Clara Rousby, British Stage Actress, ca. 1870s -- Rasputin and the Amorphous Enigma -- Benjamin Purnell, Founder of the House of David, Benton Harbor, Michigan

A birds or bees photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Those poor kids don't seem to have a clue that they're about to be carried off by that raptor that's swooping down upon them. Or at least that seems to be what we're supposed to think with that stuffed bird suspended above them. I'm not sure why these children are riding in a decorated cart pulled by a donkey. There's no address, date, or postmark on the other side of this real photo postcard, but there is a message written in French that I haven't had any success in deciphering.

Message written in French on the reverse of Don't Get Carried Away! , a real photo postcard. When I posted this over on Flickr , one person was able to provide the meanings of some of the words, but otherwise I haven't been able to figure out if the message provides any additional information about the puzzling image on the front of the card .