Alan Mays' photos

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

A French real photo postcard for April Fools' Day, called poissons d'avril (April fish) in France. There's no postmark on this hand-tinted card, but it likely dates to the early twentieth century. "1er Avril. Si tu devines que l'envoie, / Tu n'es pas la moitié d'une oie!"

"Easter Greetings" postcard dating to the early twentieth century.

A photographic Easter greeting card with a soldier posing in front of a fake palm tree and beach.

"Easter Greetings. A. Steiert & Son." Postcard addressed on the other side to Hauck Bros., Mechanicsburg, Pa., and postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., April 16, 1924. A. Steiert & Son was a manufacturer of brooms and brushes.

"E. R. Parker, manufacturer and dealer in new hardware specialties, 227½ Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, Pa. Parker's Patent Combined Clamp and Filing Guide." Handwritten in elaborate Spencerian script on the other side of this business card: "Presented by C. B. Winchell, Harrisburg, Pa." The illustration of "Parker's Patent Combined Clamp and Filing Guide" refers to a patent for an "Improvement in Saw-Clamp and Filing-Guide" (see below) that was issued to Edwin R. Parker in 1879. Improvement in Saw-Clamp and Filing-Guide . U.S. Patent No. 219,650, dated September 16, 1879. "Be it known that I, Edwin R. Parker, of Scranton, in the county of Lackawanna and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a certain new and Improved Saw-Clamp and Filing-Guide . . . . The object in making this invention is to produce a convenient instrument or machine for clamping and holding the saw-teeth and guiding the file in filing all sizes of circular and mill saws of any gage, size, and shape of teeth, and whether the saw be on the arbor or removed therefrom; and the improvements consist, respectively, in the several devices, and in the combinations and sub-combinations, as hereinafter described and claimed."

"Presented by C. B. Winchell, Harrisburg, Pa." This inscription, handwritten in elaborate Spencerian script , appears on the reverse of a business card for "E. R. Parker, manufacturer and dealer in new hardware specialties, 227½ Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, Pa."

"Kendall Tourist Camp - 1½ miles west of Silver Creek, N.Y. Motor route U.S. 20 - phone Silver Creek 40-J. 4A-H572." For additional information and images, see the Kendall Tourist Camp page on the Chautauqua County, New York, web site.

A photo of tents, including wigwams, yurts, etc. for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. A photo from the early days of automobile camping.

Spring Opening on Saturday, April 22d, 1871. On the above day the subscriber will have her Spring Opening, when she will display a large variety of bonnets, hats, flowers, ribbons, silk, guipure and cotton laces, crapes, veils, nets, collars, cuffs, &c. Ladies are cordially invited to call and examine her assortment, whether they purchase or not. Mrs. M. A. Zinn, Main Street, West of Penn, Shippensburg, Pa.

"A barrel of fun at the Steeplechase Pier, Atlantic City."

A real photo postcard showing three dapper gentlemen in suits, ties, and straw hats pretending to ride in an airship in a photo studio located in Douglas, Isle of Man. Notice how the pilot is carefully operating the fake control lever as a cigarette dangles from his mouth. I just hope that the gas bag above him doesn't contain dangerously flammable hydrogen! Printed on the back: "F. Johnson, Fort William, Douglas, I.O.M."

Honk!

Novelty real photo postcard, date and location unknown.

"April Fool. Ha ha." A nineteenth-century calling card printed on marbled paper that has faded over time. Instead of a typical calling card with a name printed on it, some Victorian-era prankster handed out this card as an April Fools' Day joke. For another Victorian calling card printed on marbled paper, see Marian Reynolds .

A photo of flowers in the garden for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten note (above left): "Eleanor Henderson, Eva, Texas Co., Okla., Oct. 24, 1914." There's no message or address on the back of this real photo postcard. Little Eleanor posed with her dog among the flowers and plants, all rendered in blue due to the cyanotype photo processing.

Found photo—no date or location.

"Excursion to Ft. Madison, given by Benevolent Union. Steamer W. W. Saturday, June 29, 1907. Adults, 50c."