Alan Mays' photos

"With all good wishes for a joyous Easter. His morning drive." A real photo postcard of a boy with his toy wagon and rooster.

"Easter Greetings." Compare this postcard with Best Easter Wishes from Mr. and Mrs. Bunny-Chick and Family .

"Easter joy attend you." For a similar postcard, see A Very Happy Easter to You .

"F. S. Andrew & Co.'s Markets. Best meals. Lowest prices." A Victorian-era trade card with an Easter theme for F. S. Andrew & Co.'s Markets, which were located in New Haven, Connecticut. See the History of the City of New Haven to the Present Time (1887), pp. 609-10, for information about Frank S. Andrew and his company and p. 611 for a portrait of Andrew . For other imaginative Victorian illustrations of improbable bicycles, see The Standard Rotary Shuttle Sewing Machine and Flowery Bicycle Calling Card .

In commemoration of Tax Day in the U.S., here's some humor from the time when photocopiers and fax machines were used to share jokes. Simplified 1040 Latest revision for 1040 Federal Income Tax Form. Department of the Internal Revenue Service 07. 19_____. Your Social Security Number ________. Part 1: Income 1. How much money did you make last year? ________ 2. Send it in ________

Do you have ideas for future topics for the Vintage Photos Theme Park ? If so, please add them to the Suggestion Box ! A photo of musicians and musical instruments for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "Pop Morehead's Family. Alma, Pop and Jean, J.W., Moss, Henry, Mary." Charles M. "Pop" Morehead, Sr. (1891-1973), lived in Littlestown, Pennsylvania, and performed in groups billed as Pop Morehead's Family, Pop Moorehead and His Kentucky Mountaineers, and the Kump Station Ramblers. For other real photo postcards of country music groups from south central Pennsylvania, see Arizona Kid and His Cow Girls, Reading, Pa., 1941 ; The Lone Rangers, Lancaster, Pa. ; and The Oklahoma Travelers, Highspire, Pa.

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who has the flashiest Easter basket of all? Mom and the kids pose with Easter baskets as the light from dad's flash bounces off the mirror in the background. Location and date unknown.

"Economize by using Putnam Dyes and Putnam Dry-Cleaner." Printed on the back of this die-cut advertising card: "Easter Greetings from Frank P. Allen, Shanks, W. Va." A royal rabbit wearing a crown sits on colorful Easter eggs to promote Putnam Dyes—used for clothes but not eggs, as far as I know—and Putnam Dry-Cleaner, a solvent for home dry cleaning . For another multicolored advertising piece from this company, see Putnam Fadeless Dyes and Tints Advertising Fan .

The business card for James D. Brinser, who was the superintendent of the Crescent Electric Company in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. The card was printed by D. B, Landis, Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pa. I relied on listings and ads in various publications for the approximate date of 1895. The Annual Report of the Factory Inspector for Pennsylvania in the year 1894, for instance, gives the location of the Crescent Electric Company as 117 East Chestnut in Lancaster, as printed on the card. In 1896, however, Brinser assigned an Electric-Motor Fan patent to the Marietta Manufacturing Company in Marietta, Pa., which suggests that fans were no longer manufactured in Lancaster by that time. By 1898, the ads for Crescent Electric Fans indicated that the Marietta Manufacturing Company made them. The Crescent Electric Co. Manufacturers of Electric Motors and Fans 111 to 117 East Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pa. Electrical and general machine repairing. Armature and magnet winding a specialty. New and second-hand motors in stock. Prompt attention. Obliging service. Reasonable prices. James Brinser, superintendent. Telephone.

"J. W. Benneman, manufacturer of Our Principal 5 cent cigars, Millersville, Pa." A business card printed by D. B, Landis, Pluck Print, Lancaster, Pa.

"The Reading Depot, Landisville, Pa. Photo D.B.L., 1909." Printed on the back of this postcard: "D. B. Landis, publisher, Pluck Art Printery, Lancaster, Pa." David Bachman Landis, who was the owner and operator of Pluck Art Printery, photographed the train station in Landisville, Pennsylvania, in 1909, and published this postcard based on his photo.

An early twentieth-century Easter postcard.

Do you have ideas for future topics for the Vintage Photos Theme Park ? If so, please add them to the Suggestion Box ! A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of cats (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . "Looking through the news you may see something which might interest you. I will send the papers to you. J.R." A real photo postcard with a cat that's literally looking through a newspaper in 1906. For another postcard with a similar punning message, see Breaking the News, Lititz Express, July 4, 1907 .

A photo of children or adults posing with ponies, horses, or other equines for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Outfitted in a cowboy hat, bandana, and chaps, a young boy sits atop a horse as he poses for a photo.

"Nobody can April-Fool me. I am a fool. Bernhardt Wall. Copyright 1909 The Ullman Mfg. Co. N.Y." Printed on the other side of this postcard: "American Post Card. 'April Fool' Series No. 156. Subject No. 2490." This foolish fellow didn't fall victim to the Brick in a Hat trick, but he is wearing a "I am a fool" sign. For a similar April Fools' Day postcard, see They Can't April-Fool Us, Eh?

For similar April Fools' Day postcards, see Dear Sir, We Have This Day Doubled Your Salary, The Boss and Dear Sir, I Have Sent You Several Boxes of Cigars . April 1st Dear Sir, Pardon this intrusion, but as you seemed to scared to speak, or write, I took the liberty. Before proceeding farther I must tell you that I have a peculiar affliction. After drinking a few quarts of champagne, I sing, dance, and spout poetry. As my temperament is to love and be loved, I cannot resist the impulse, and don't! Understand, I am a perfect lady always, one who loves her home, but " Oh you kid ." So just press the button, and I will do the rest. Yours bubbling over with love. Mazie D.

"1er Avril. Le baiser le plus doux est celui qui vient de loin!" Google translation: April 1st. The sweetest kiss is the one that comes from far away! A French hand-tinted real photo postcard for the first day in April.