Alan Mays' photos

The illustration on this Christmas card from 1930 is a reference to the stock market crash that devastated the economy the previous year and signaled the beginning of the Great Depression . We see ticker tape spewing out of a stock ticker machine as brokers run around in the background trying to place buy or sell orders for stocks as the chaos of the crash unfolds. Despite the volatility of the market, the card's message is to have a "Merry Christmas anyway." "The Bulls and Bears may have their day / But Merry Christmas, anyway. Your son, Ross." "You can take stock in this greeting." Handwritten date on the back of the card: "Dec. 15, 1930."

Like Ellie, I thought I'd add an extra photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Solstice, or any other similar holiday celebration (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . From a stereographic card captioned, "Christmas Morning—Saying Grace," which was published in 1901 by Geo. W. Griffith, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Six little girls are sitting around a table with their hands folded as they say grace. Are they really having breakfast on Christmas morn, or could it be a pretend tea party? There's a doll sitting on a rocking chair at the head of the table, and two more dolls are lying on a small bed at the other end of the table (in the lower right-hand corner of the photo). Other toys, including a drum and a horse pull toy, are visible on the floor between the two girls on this side of the table. Take a look at the variety of ornaments and decorations on the Christmas tree in the background. Among them are two small U.S. flags, and there's a larger flag on the right-hand side of the tree. For the full card, see Christmas Morning—Saying Grace (Stereographic Card) . This was one in a series of stereographic cards with similar scenes of Christmas. For another in the series, see After the Joys of Christmas Day , which is available on the J. Paul Getty Museum web site. Text printed on the card: 2119. Christmas Morning—Saying Grace. Geo. W. Griffith, publisher. Philadelphia, Pa. Sold only by Griffith & Griffith. Philadelphia. Chicago. London. Hamburg, Ger. Milan, Italy.

For more information about this stereographic card, see Christmas Morning—Saying Grace, 1901 . 2119. Christmas Morning—Saying Grace. Geo. W. Griffith, publisher. Philadelphia, Pa. Sold only by Griffith & Griffith. Philadelphia. Chicago. London. Hamburg, Ger. Milan, Italy.

First of two in a series of two or more photos that tell a story (number them, if appropriate) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. This is a real photo postcard addressed on the other side to " Mrs. Mollie Neperiny , Lacrosse , Kansas USA." There's no stamp or postmark, however, so it was evidently sent in an envelope rather than mailed separately as a postcard. Handwritten note on the back: "30/12/61. Aboard the ship San Georgia. Bound for Napoli. We are in Athenia now. Expect to arrive in Germany about 6 Jan. 62. Will send Xmas present then. Too many thefts at Turkey in mail. Will explain in letter. Received your pkg. George, Jan, Kit." As far as I've been able to determine, George, Janet , and Kit (or Katherine?) Buck were traveling in Europe--from Turkey to Greece and then on to Italy and Germany--in December 1961 and January 1962. Janet and Kit are posing in front of a giant Santa located on a square in "Athenia" (Athens), Greece. The blurred figures of the pedestrians behind them suggest that the camera was set to a slow shutter speed--perhaps it was a cloudy day. The building in the background on the left appears to be under construction. The one on the right has shops on the first floor, and a sign with Greek letters is partially visible on its roof. As Janet wrote in her note to her mother Mollie, the family was bound next for "Napoli" (Naples, Italy). Take a look at the second photo to see the Santas they encountered there.

Second of two in a series of two or more photos that tell a story (number them, if appropriate) for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "Naples, January 1, 1962." Janet, Kit, and George Buck pose with two Santa Clauses in Naples, Italy, on New Year's Day in 1962. These two Santas, with their masks, slightly different clothing, and one holding a cane, seem to me to be rather mismatched and maybe even a bit creepy, but Kit is smiling broadly and looks happy. Janet and Kit previously had their picture taken with a giant Santa in Athens, Greece , on or before December 30, 1961. Based on the note that Janet wrote on the back of that first photo , the family was continuing to travel and expected to arrive in Germany by January 6, 1962. These two photos provide a glimpse into what must have been a busy and fun-filled European trip.

An early twentieth-century real photo postcard with the solid three-dimensional letters of "Hearty Christmas Wishes" dramatically positioned against a background of snow-covered trees and hills.

"Merry Christmas. Love and best wishes, Catharine." An odd anthropomorphic scene of a burning candle kissing an apple as they hang together as ornaments on a Christmas tree. This postcard dates to the first decade of the twentieth century.

Frederick H. Stowe is listed as a "stove manufacturer" ("founder" is someone who owns or operates a foundry) in the Troy, New York, city directory for 1882, but the Troy directory for 1883 indicates that he "removed to Albany." After moving, he went into business with William F. Burden and operated a stove foundry in Albany under the name of Burden & Stowe from 1883 to 1887. Frederick H. Stowe, Stove Founder Manufacturer of ranges, cook and parlor stoves, sinks, hollow ware, &c. Troy, N.Y. Salesroom, corner of Paine and Hamilton Streets, Green Island. Presented by ________. Cohoes horse cars run within one block of the door.

To deliver toy Simplex Typewriters in 1911, Santa Claus left his sleigh and reindeer at the North Pole and somehow constructed an airplane out of a Christmas tree. Or at least that's what this advertising postcard from the Watt & Shand department store in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, would have us believe. For other early Simplex Typewriter advertisements featuring Santa, see: • Santa's Simplex Typewriters, 1905 • Dear Santa, I Want the 1905 Simplex Typewriter • Santa's Favorite Simplex Typewriters, 1908 • Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908 Your Boy, Your Girl Should Have a 1911 Simplex Typewriter. Christmas presents, $1. $2, $3. No. 1, Note size, has all the capitals, figures, and necessary marks for punctuation, $1.00. No. 2, Note size with capitals small letters, figures, and necessary marks for punctuation, $2.00. No. 3, Full size, has all the characters of standard typewriters, $3.00. Larger, better than ever. Remodeled. Finer machines. More characters. They do better work. More room for the fingers. Easier to operate. With greetings from Watt & Shand, Lancaster, Pa.

"U.S. of America Submarine Chaser." A " submarine chase r" is "a small and fast naval vessel that is specifically intended for anti-submarine warfare," according to Wikipedia. I'm not sure where this sub chaser was docked or when these two couples reported for duty aboard the ship, but perhaps they were chasing an F-6 submarine .

Looks like good ol' Santa Claus and his reindeer are up on the housetop with lots of toys for all the girls and boys! This is a Victorian-era sample of an advertising trade card. "Christmas Card—Card No. 3. 3 colors."

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of piercing, unusual, or distinctive eyes (a photo featuring someone or something with expressive eye; the eyes can belong to people, animals, or face-like objects) . Embossed at lower right: "Felker's Studio, Easton, Pa." Handwritten name and date on the back of this real photo postcard: "Harry Johnson Everitt. April 8th, 1917." With their frowns and staring eyes, this family doesn't appear to be enjoying their photo session. I'm not sure if Harry Johnson Everitt is the name of the father or the son.

"Santa sends you a message of Christmas cheer." Santa Claus always stays up to date with the latest technology. Here he is in the early part of the twentieth century using wireless telegraphy (also called radiotelegraphy) to tap out a Morse code message on a telegraph key. The boy is using a crystal radio set to listen to the dots and dashes of Santa's message. Judging by the smile on the kid's face, I'll bet that he found out that he's on Santa's Nice List. Santa has also been an early adopter of other communication and transportation technologies, including telephones , typewriters , airships , biplanes , and other kinds of airplanes .

"Greetings from the Philco Convention, Atlantic City." An undated real photo postcard. As far as I can determine, the convention took place in 1953.

A photo of two or more people peeking over something for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Seven men and women wearing hats peer over the shrubbery in this undated real photo postcard.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of I Should Have Known Better - people engaged in potentially risky behavior or suffering the aftereffects of a mishap . I think this was intended to be funny, but it seems more scary than amusing.

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of Twist or Shout - people dancing with some amount of vigor—extra credit for twisting . Stamped on the back of this real photo postcard: "Erinnerung an den Bayr. Abend im Café Bauer, Garmisch." Translation: "Memento of the Bavarian evening at the Café Bauer, Garmisch." For another photo from the same establishment, see Mugging for the Camera at Café Bauer, Garmisch

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo for the theme of smiling faces of yesteryear (photos of smiling people, based on the Flickr group of the same name) . "Memento of the world-famous Bavarian evenings at the Café Bauer, Garmisch." Stamped on the back of this real photo postcard: "Foto Franz, 81 Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Kainzenbadstr. 26, Tel. 3202. Erinnerung an die weltbekannten Bayerischen Abende im Café Bauer, Garmisch."