Alan Mays' photos

A smoking photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. I hope that match didn't burn his fingers as he waited for the photographer to take his picture!

"Jennie R. Baker. My card and my compliments. Please give yours in exchange."

"Mitchell's Carpet Cleaning House, 21st & Race Sts. Carpets stored."

Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Souvenir of Salt Air Beach , Dave Levene, mgr., season 1915."

An elephant on a vintage postcard.

"A grand entertainment will be held on Saturday even., April 3, '97, in Cooper's Hall, for the benefit of the Salunga Cornet Band. The comedy-drama 'Tatters' is one of the finest amateur plays that has been written, abounding in the most pathetic and humorous scenes. Good music will add largely to the night's entertainment. Don't fail to come; rain or shine. Admission, 15 cents. Reserved seat, 20 cents. Committee. Pluck Print, 38 East Chestnut Street, Lancaster, Pa."

"The Order of Railroad Telegraphers, issued to B. H. Harding. Good until December 31st, 1915, unless revoked. H. B. Perham, president. L. W. Quick. grand secretary and treasurer."

Only $20 for This Brand New 1935 Automatic Washer If you hold the lucky key you save $35. --- The first 200 women calling at our store will each receive a key. Yours may be the lucky one. If your key is the first one to unlock the padlock, then you secure this splendid automatic electric washer, a $55.00 value, for only $20.00. --- Remember: Be at our store with your key at 2:30 p.m., Saturday, September 14, 1935. Keys will be tried in padlock at that hour. --- It's the opportunity of a lifetime! You may never have such an offer again. Costs you nothing to try. Simply come to the store now and get your key, then try it in the padlock on the day and hour specified. You may be the happy owner of an "Automatic," a favorite washer with women for over a quarter century. Read the specifications at left of this modern, beautiful washer that any woman would be proud to own. --- Lowest cost per washing with its patented "Stokes" ball-bearing drive. Its quiet, smooth operation is a revelation. Automotive type control for greater convenience. Fast, clean washings with its modern, high-wing aluminum agitator that makes a full 5/8ths turn. Massive rust proof "Chamberlain" wringer with highest grade rubber balloon rolls Adjustable pressure. Newest type quick tension release. Large capacity Armco iron tub finished in beautiful white porcelain. Base and legs a rich black Efficient 1/4 H.P. motor specially mounted in rubber cradle. Newest and best construction known. --- Get you key now! --- A $55.00 value, for only $20.00 to holder of lucky key. You save $35.00. --- Levi W. Mumma, Flora, Penna.

A washing / laundry photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten caption: "Wash out on line in camp." A real photo postcard addressed to "Mr. Irving C. Towsend, 400 M St., N.W., Local," and postmarked on September 7, 1908, in Washington D.C. "Wash out on line in camp," of course, refers to the laundry drying on the clothesline that we see here in the photo. But it's also a punning allusion to a washout on a railway line, which happens when railroad tracks are undercut by erosion. A popular comic postcard from the 1900s also makes this humorous connection (the only copy that I could quickly locate is a listing on the CardCow site ). Entitled "Washout on the Line," the card shows an illustration of a shirt hanging on a clothesline along with drawings of two telegrams. The first telegram says, "Wash out on line. Can not leave. Jim." The second one replies, "Buy a new shirt and come along. Jack."

"I am simply killing time!!"

Mama cow and baby calf seem to be giving the photographer a sideways glance as the farmer and his family hold them in place to pose for the camera. See a cropped version for a close-up of the disgruntled bovines. The decorative mask--with its stylized flowers and curled-up edges--gives the appearance of a fancy photo frame. For a similar real photo postcard, see Man's Portrait in Elaborate Border .

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

A photo of a church, chapel, or any other religious building for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Caption at lower left: "Dixon Church." Sign: "Revival Meetings in Progress Here. Come Tonight." Handwritten message on the back of this real photo postcard (no name, address, or postmark): "This was taken during our revival last fall. The people are Bro. Rarick the evangelist and Willis. The building to right is our dwelling." Addendum: I was skeptical at first when someone over on Flickr suggested that the church in this photo is the same one that's still located at 501 W. Third Street (corner of Third and Madison) in Dixon, Illinois (see the Google Street View dated 2013). After further checking, however, I was able to confirm that this building was home to the Dixon Church of the Brethren until 1963, when it was purchased by the Second Baptist Church, which still uses it today.

A linen postcard with colorful cars parked in front of Bethlehem Union Station , a railroad station in Bethlehem , Pennsylvania.

"Risbon Roller Rink, Cypher Beach, Hopewell, Pa., R.R No. 2. Good only on date sold. Admit one, est. price .29, fed. tax. .06. 35 cents. 018948. 018949."

"Inquirer Restaurant, Nos. 53 & 55 North Queen St., Lancaster, Pa. Lager beer, wines & liquors. Prime oysters all the year round. Game in season. Francis Noll, proprietor."

" E pluribus unum . Remember me." A Victorian-era hidden-name calling card with an illustration of U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant (1822-1885). The colorful die-cut scrap was a memorial to the president, and it lifts up on the right-hand side to reveal the name of "Mabel E. Emerich" printed underneath.

" Martian Time-Slip , by Philip K. Dick , author of The Man in the High Castle. A deathly trap waits for the colonists on Mars." Cover art by Ralph Brillhart from the 1964 paperback edition.