Alan Mays' photos

This advertisement consists of two die-cut pieces--shaped like a cow and a milkmaid--that have been glued together. For the back of this two-part advertising trade card, see De Laval Separators Have Revolutionized Dairying . "De Laval Cream Separators. Save $10 per cow every year."

This advertisement consists of two die-cut pieces--shaped like a cow and a milkmaid--that have been glued together. For the front of this two-part advertising trade card, see De Laval Cream Separators . "De Laval Separators have revolutionized dairying. All styles and sizes, $50 to $800, farm and factory." "Nearly 500,000 farmers, all over the world, have found a De Laval Cream Separator the best investment they ever made. Send for catalogue and name of local agent if not stamped above."

"For dependable transportation, be specific, say ' Union Pacific .' Road of the Daily Streamliners. 1952. 1953." Places listed on the map: Portland, Seattle, Spokane, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sun Valley, Butte, Ogden, Pocatello, Salt Lake City, Hoover Dam, Cheyenne, Denver, Omaha, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Kansas City, St. Louis, Chicago.

Know Your Presidents. Note: The numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. indicate order of succession. The abbreviation D for Democrat, R for Republican, Fed for Federalist. Swing to Ortlieb's, Philadelphia's famous beer. Henry F. Ortlieb Brewing Co., Phila., Pa.

A stencil was used to create this calling card.

"To one I love." See also Brooklyn Bridge Valentine .

To My Matchless Valentine Cupid's Matches. Warranted to kindle love's flame. Strike here. Tho' you may have set these all alight, My heart is safe you know; For that has been aflame for you Sweetheart, long long ago. -------- Miss Violet Glossenger, Cortez, Pa. Hello Violet, Your postal received and I thought I would answer it being so near to "Valentines Day." Have you had any sleighing over there? We have had a little bit. Well goodbye from that rascal of a Milton C.

A real photo postcard. No date or location.

An advertising postcard for Nunn-Bush Shoes. None But Nunn-Bush Shoes for Me! Nunn-Bush Ankle-Fashioned Oxfords. Most styles, $8.50 to $11.50, a few higher. Nunn-Bush shoes are ankle-fashioned to make their trim lines last. The John B. Wilt Co., "The Home of Good Clothes," Elkins, W. Va.

An advertising calendar and blotter for Pluck Art Printery--also known at different times throughout its history as Pluck Print, Pluck Electric Print, and Landis Art Press--which was a letterpress print shop operated by David Bachman Landis (1862-1940) in Lancaster, Pa. Blotters by the Basket or Barrel Briskly printed whenever you order 'em! Yearly Calendar--1897. Pluck Art Printery is ever on the alert throughout the entire year for new ideas and new customers. Try us and remain a patron. D. B. Landis. Most up-to-date job office in Lancaster. The number--38 East Chestnut Street.

The cover of this small die-cut cookbook, Old Pennsylvania Recipes , by Mrs. T. Roberts Appel and Mrs. Calvin N. Wenrich, published in 1933, shows an Amish girl standing in front of a gate.

"The Whole Dam Family. Billy B. Dam, Sarah Dam, The Dam Kid, Mamie Dam, Miss U. B. Dam, The Dam Dog, Mrs. I. B. Dam, Mr. I. B. Dam, The Dam Nuisance. Copyright 1905 by Souvenir Post Card Co., N.Y." Comic depictions of "The Whole Dam Family" with their humorous--yet somewhat scandalous--names were wildly popular subjects for postcards in 1905. The "Whole Dam Family" postcard craze influenced other media, and the Dams also showed up in silent films , vaudeville sketches, printed advertisements, wax cylinder recordings , 78-rpm records , and sheet music . For other "Whole Dam Family" postcards, see The Whole Dam Family on Their Vacation and The Last of the Whole Dam Family . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .

"The Whole Dam Family on Their Vacation. Mrs. Dam, Mr. Dam, Miss Dam, Master Dam, Cissy Dam, Kity Dam, Baby Dam, The Dam Dog. Copyright, 1905, W. G. Kress." The "Whole Dam Family" postcard craze was in full swing when the Insurance Press asked about the Dams in its May 31, 1905, issue, p. 6 : "Whence the sudden prominence of this family of strong and sturdy patronym? At present writing, the streets of every city and town ring with the name of these celebrities. Venders, fakirs, and newsboys vie with one another in sounding their glories, and stationers' windows are graced with their smiling portraits. On poster and mailing card they are displayed--a handsome, happy group labeled 'The Whole Dam Family,' from Mr. I. B. Dam and Mrs. U. B. Dam through the grades of little Dams, down even to the Dam dog. An ideal family!" For other "Whole Dam Family" postcards, see The Whole Dam Family and The Last of the Whole Dam Family . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .

"The Last of the Whole Damm Family. Miss U. B. Dam, born 1889, died 1905. Mrs. I. B. Dam, born 1860, died 1905. Mr. I. B. Dam, born 1855, died 1905. Lizzie Dam, born 1900, died 1905. Baby Dam, born 1903, died 1905. Jimmy Dam, born 1884, died 1905. Annie Dam, born 1884, died 1905. Deserted." The obituary on this postcard (mouse over the image to see an enlargement of the text ) jokingly announced the end of the Dam (or Damm) family, with the exception of "The Dam Dog." At the same time, of course, the publication of the postcard actually perpetuated the "Whole Dam Family" humor fad. In any case, the obituary was probably correct in suggesting that "too much notoriety" was what eventually caused the entire family of Dams--and the humor they generated--to fade from the scene. For other "Whole Dam Family" cards, see The Whole Dam Family and The Whole Dam Family on Their Vacation . Or take a look at The Whole Dam Family Postcard Craze, 1905 .