Alan Mays' photos

An elementary school photo taken by a professional photographer for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Sign: "Savage Elementary School, Mrs. Rhoads, Grade 3, 1964-65." Studio name on accompanying photo folder: "Mealey - Maryland." Although some students undoubtedly find their school to be a savage and unforgiving place, the name of this Savage Elementary School came from its location in the town of Savage , Maryland. The students have assembled in the library for their class photo. Some of the books on display on the top shelf behind them include Hercules: The Story of an Old-Fashioned Fire Engine (1940), A Fly Went By (1958), The Little Twin (1953), Stagecoach Sam (1940), and Caps for Sale (1940). Many of the students are wearing red-colored clothing, but the boy standing at the end of the fourth row in the upper right-hand corner of the photo is dressed in a grey shirt and pants with a "U.S. Army" patch over one shirt pocket. Similarly, the boy sitting on the floor at the end of the first row in the lower right-hand corner is wearing a blue uniform-like outfit with an "Air Force" patch on his shirt. Finally, notice how the boy at the end of the third row closed his eyes and scrunched up his face as the photographer snapped the picture.

"I won't be home till morning. I don't care if I never come back. Nobody loves a fat man. Whose baby am I." For another souvenir real photo postcard with a similar sentiment, see We Don't Care If We Never Go Back, Indianapolis, Ind.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of my old pal—depicting friends, buddies, pals enjoying each other's company . Sign: "We don't care if we never go back." Banner: "Indianapolis." An unused real photo postcard of two friends pretending to be in a hot air balloon as they pose for a souvenir photo in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Noko stamp box on the other side suggests that it may date between 1907 and 1929. I have other cards with photos of the fellow on the left that were postmarked in 1911. See also I Don't Care If I Never Come Back .

A late nineteenth-century business card for Henry Swartz's dry goods store in York, Pennsylvania. The typeface used for "Henry Swartz" is Antique Extended . Thanks go to Florian Hardwig for the identification. Henry Swartz, Dealer in Dry Goods, Groceries, Notions, Queensware, &c., &c., &c. No. 229 South George Street, York, Pa. Experience in the business and strict attention enables him to render general satisfaction. Country produce bought and sold. Dry Goods. Gazette, Pr.

An acquaintance card dating to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. If you look closely, you'll see that the printer mistakenly used a "u" instead of an "n" to spell "and." I had to read through the text a couple of times before I even noticed the error. Confidential Miss: If you desire to form my acquaintance, please state time and place on blank space.

A patterns photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A young man nervously looks for an escape route as he's surrounded by the patterned designs of the wallpaper, wicker rocker, and carpet. This is an unused real photo postcard with a divided back but no stamp box. For similar photos with distinctive wallpaper, see Girl Cornering on a Tricycle, Harrisburg, Pa. and Girl Standing on a Chair in Front of Patterned Wallpaper .

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of 1970s (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic). An orange Lawn-Boy mower in a snapshot dated April 1971.

Sinister Sam lurks in the background as two women pose in front of a car with a 1940 California license plate. "61B626, California, 1940."

Caption: "Dorwart Cottage, Landisville Camp Grounds." Sign above doorway: "Campview." Postmarked in 1916 in Landisville, Pa., and addressed to Mrs. Edward Searlis, 607 W. King St, Lancaster, Pa. (and forwarded from there to 653 State St., Albany, N.Y.). Handwritten message: "Here for a week at this cottage. With love, H. Y. Sprecher." The Landisville Camp Meeting , located in Landisville , Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, still exists today. The religious camp meeting consists of 27 acres that include 53 cottages and a tabernacle that seats 800, though I'm not sure whether the building pictured on this postcard is still standing.

"Keep Cool." A postcard published by D. Hillson in 1907.

A calling card for "H. E. Grothe" with attached photo. I purchased this from a dealer in Seattle, Washington, who obtained it along with other calling cards (without photographs) from an estate sale in Idaho. For other photo calling cards, see: -- Warren Perkins -- Miss Ellen Sophia Auchey -- Irwin G. Waggener

A late nineteenth-century label by Huntoon & Gorham, a cigar manufacturer. Note the Gaslight Style characteristics, with elaborate typefaces, curved text, drop shadows, and the rays of the sun shining out from behind the clouds. Huntoon & Gorham 45 Providence, R.I. Huntoon & Gorham

A mothers and babies photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A fashionably dressed mother with a gentle smile poses for a picture as she holds her baby, who's staring in wide-eyed astonishment at something off camera. This is an undated real photo postcard from Paris, France (based on a partial address— Ave. de Neuilly —stamped on the other side). See also the full version of this photo.

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

A fruits and vegetables photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. William H. Martin (1865-1940), a Kansas photographer, created this amusing photomontage and published it as a real photo postcard in 1909. This photo postcard was addressed on the other side to Mr. Alfie Watts, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, and postmarked in Lima, Ohio, on Nov. 20, 1910. Handwritten message: "Lima, Nov. 20/10. Write soon. Friend James. 116 Circular St. W., Lima, Ohio."

Handwritten note on the back of this photo: "Fritz & his Easter bonnet." Fritz's owner has a big smile on her face as she looks down at her cat, but Fritz doesn't seem to be too excited about his Easter bonnet. See a cropped version of the photo for a better view of them together. A close-up of Fritz shows him patiently enduring the Easter photo shoot.

Fritz the cat with his new hat! His owner smiles down at him as he poses with his Easter bonnet. See a close-up of Fritz along with the full version of this photo.

Fritz the cat doesn't seem too enthusiastic about posing for a picture, even if he did receive a new bonnet for Easter. For views of the cat with its owner, see the full and cropped versions of this photo.