Alan Mays' photos

Scary instructions for surviving an atomic bomb blast that were distributed to residents of Lawn , Pennsylvania, in the 1950s. Fire & Air Raid Signals for Lawn and Vicinity Fire: 1 sharp blast for 4 minutes. Air Raid Test Alert: 3 short sharp blasts (not used in case of actual road). Air Raid Alert: 3-minute continuous fluctuating blasts. All Clear: 3 1-minute blasts at 2-minute intervals. 6 Survival Secrets for "A" Bombing 1. Try to get shielded. If you have time, get down in basement or subway. If out-of-doors, seek shelter alongside a building. 2. Drop flat on ground or floor. To keep from being tossed about and to lessen the chance of being struck by falling and flying objects. 3. Bury your face in your arms. To protect your face from flash burns. 4. Don't rush outside after a bombing. Wait at least 1 hour for radiation to die down. 5. Avoid food or water in open containers. To avoid radioactive poisoning, stick to canned or bottled food. 6. Don't start rumors. A single rumor might touch off a panic that could cause human casualties. Compliments of Harold's Insurance Agency. Complete insurance service. Campbelltown, Pa. Harold S. Patrick, agent.

A real photo postcard addressed on the other side to Miss Millicent Edinger, 6709 Leeds St., Philadelphia, Pa., and postmarked Luthersburg, Pa., May 16, 1907. Handwritten message: "Please send us some cards with views from your city. This is Lee & Lester shooting birds off the church steeple." I sure hope Lee and Lester didn't actually hit any birds or the steeple!

"Your windshield was cleaned by courtesy of Glass House Shell Servicecenter."

"Easter Greetings." An early twentieth-century postcard published by Raphael Tuck & Sons . For more photography-themed Easter postcards, see Easter Bunny Photographer and Photogenic Easter Bunny (below).

"Easter Greetings." An Easter postcard, trimmed at the top and postmarked 1909 on the back.

"W. H. Dutcher of New York City, the Great Roller Skate Contortionist, is open for dates and can be engaged by responsible managers. W. F. Orr, manager, North Adams, Mass." A nineteenth-century business card for a "roller skate contortionist" named W. H. Dutcher. Wikipedia mentions a Carola Trier who performed as a "roller-skating contortionist" in the 1940s or 1950s, and the Richmond Dispatch newspaper, October 27, 1885, p. 2, contained an ad for the Richmond Skating School, which sponsored an appearance by "H. H. Golden, Champion Roller-Skate Contortionist." The only contortionist I've heard about previously was a stationary one--see Knoto (below).

Even the Victorians had breaking news, as this nineteenth-century advertising trade card demonstrates. "The Detroit Evening Journal. Three editions daily. 2¢. per copy, 10¢ per week by carrier. Associated Press dispatches. United Press dispatches. The Henderson-Achert Co. Litho. Cincinnati."

Good luck to you, me, and Ipernity! I figured we could use all the luck we can get as we await word on Ipernity.

"1er Avril [April 1st]." A-tisket, a-tasket, that's a lot of fish in one basket! A French hand-tinted real photo postcard commemorating the first day of the fourth month.

"1er Avril. Souvenir d'une amie." Handwritten on the back: "Devinez qui vous aime." "April 1st. Remembering a friend." Handwritten: "Guess who loves you." A French hand-tinted real photo postcard commemorating the initial day in the month of April.

Handwritten message on the back of this real photo postcard (no date, address, stamp, or postmark): "This is where we stay most of the time. Come over to our house, and bring the baby along. Mary and Charlie."

What appears to be an odd game of hide-and-seek in a spooky forest is captioned "Peek-a-Boo, July 3, 1908," on the front of this real photo postcard. The image's irregular edges add to the strangeness of the scene. The imprint on the back—"W. W. Deatrick, Kutztown, Pa."—identifies this as a photo by William Wilberforce Deatrick (1853-1925), who was a longtime faculty member at what is now Kutztown University . Additional examples of Deatrick's photos are available for viewing in the Kutztown University Postcard Collection . See also " W. W. Deatrick Left His Mark at Kutztown ," an article by George M. Meiser that appeared in the Reading Eagle , April 6, 1983.

"1er Avril. L'amitié vous l'envoie." A hand-tinted French real photo postcard for the first day in April.

Found photo sent though the mail as a postcard. Postmarked Saginaw, Michigan, March 27, 1986.

"I'm all ears. Tell me all about it. Wall." A corny postcard by illustrator Bernhardt Wall .

"Augustus F. Siller, paper hanger, 437 Franklin St., Philadelphia, Pa." A nineteenth-century business card for a Philadelphia wallpaper hanger. For other late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century business and trade cards for paper hangers, see A. B. Tack, Practical Paper Hanger and Decorator, Harrisburg, Pa. , A. E. Cobaugh, Paper Hanging, Falmouth, Pa., 1902 , and Frescoing! House and Sign Painting, E. A. Weis, Reading, Pa. (see below).

"Frescoing! House and sign painting, paper hanging, graining, glazing. Latest styles of wall paper in large variety. All work done as represented. E. A. Weis, agt., 26 N. 6th St., Reading, Pa. Eagle Job Print, Reading."