Alan Mays' photos

A pink basket-weave pattern is the basis for the background design of this Victorian-era calling card.

Exotic motifs, possibly derived from Japanese or Chinese illustrations, are visible in the design of this Victorian-era calling card.

An embossed design forms an elaborate border on this Victorian-era calling card.

An Erie Railroad car appears on the front of this exaggeration postcard, and the description on the back of the card (see below) mentions the railroad company twice. It seems likely that the Erie Railroad sponsored the card, but there's no indication of a publisher's name on the other side. Addressed to: Traffic Dept., Kalamazoo Tank and Silo Co., Kalamazoo, Mich. Postmarked: Detroit, Mich., Aug. 2, 1913. Printed on the back: Incandescent Lamps. The present yearly production of incandescent lamps in this country amounts to about 114,000,000--ranging from ¼ to 500 candle power. The largest factory is located in Harrison, N.J. (on the Erie Railroad); other important important points of manufacture are: New York City, Chicago, Cleveland, Youngstown, O., and Warren, O. (all of which are located on the Erie Railroad). A carload shipment of incandescent lamps contains 40,000 lamps of ordinary size--more than three times the number required to equip a modern skyscraper office building accommodating 7500 people.

"1883 - A Carload of Mammoth Navel Oranges from ________. Copyright 1909 by Edward H. Mitchell, San Francisco."

"2190 - A Carload of Raspberries from ________. Copyright 1910 by Edward H. Mitchell, San Francisco."

"2194 - A Carload of Blackberries from ________. Copyright 1910 by Edward H. Mitchell, San Francisco."

For a similar postcard, see And May You Get the Glad Hand Everywhere .

For a similar postcard, see I Hope You Get the Glad Hand Always .

"Margreta Larsson, Våmhus." A calling card that I purchased along with some Swedish-language religious cards. Margreta Larsson was presumably from Våmhus , Dalarna County, Sweden (Sverige).

Costumed schoolchildren celebrate Easter and springtime in 1963. See also Spring Is Here—and So Is Easter!

"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.

"Transfer Picture Book. Made in Japan." Cover of a small booklet containing a few pages of decals or stamps. The creature on the cover is Mogera , a robot with laser beam eyes that first appeared in Earth Defense Force , a 1957 Japanese science fiction film that was released two years later in the United States as The Mysterians (yes, that's where the music group Question Mark and the Mysterians got its name). The Mysterian Space Station, a ringed planet, a Sputnik -like satellite, and a couple of rockets are visible in the sky above Mogera (did his laser beams miss that rocket or are they going right through it?).

"Let us smoke the 'Patrick Pipe' of peace! March 17. HBG." Printed on back: "L. & E. Serie 2269." A St. Patrick's Day postcard illustrated by H. B. Griggs and published by Leubrie & Elkus, ca. 1910s.

A cozy and warm on a winter's day photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Uh, well, perhaps I've totally misinterpreted "cozy and warm on a winter's day," but for me that conjures up visions of drinking hot chocolate next to the fireplace while gazing through frosted windows at the blizzard raging outside. This cyanotype photo was the closest match I could find to that concept. There aren't any warm beverages, and it's missing a view of the snowy outdoors, but the children seem to be warm and content next to the blazing fire. As the back of the cyanotype reveals (see the transcription and image below), this is a real photo postcard that was sent as a Christmas greeting in 1907. So does that mean that the scene is supposed to represent children waiting for the arrival of Santa Claus on Christmas eve? Or does this show the kids enjoying their presents--doll, book, horn, and drum--at the end of an exciting and tiring Christmas day? Postmarks on back: South Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Dec. 21, 1907, and Chilton, Wisconsin, Dec. 22, 1907. Addressed to: "Mr. Henry Greve, Chilton, Wis." Handwritten message: "A Merry Christmas to you and yours. From your friend, Nick Bruehl."

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

"Canandaigua, Elmira, and N.Y.& E. Rail Road. From Jefferson to Howard, Oct. 25, 1853. Good this trip only. No. 962. P. Donnelly."