Alan Mays' photos

A hand-tinted real photo postcard that's postmarked Accrington, Lancashire, England, 29 March 1918. A Happy Easter May my greeting be the first To meet you, on this Easter morn, May nothing mar your happiness, And only peace and joy be born.

An early twentieth-century French tinted real photo postcard for Easter. Pâques Pour Pâques choisissez les fleurs ou mon amour, Je vous donne les deux en ce bienheureux jour. Google translation: Easter For Easter choose flowers or my love, I give you both on this blessed day.

An apple --and an "apple-butter" (get it?)--on a vintage postcard for the ABC Group (4/12/2017).

The eye-catching cover of Escape the Night , a 1944 murder mystery by Mignon G. Eberhart .

Oh no, Harry has an atom bomb in his closet! That's what we're told on the back cover (see below) of The Smuggled Atom Bomb , a 1951 novel by Philip Wylie . The front cover (above) warns us about "an atomic plot against America" and poses the question, "Is the fate of America ticking away?"

The back cover (above) of The Smuggled Atom Bomb (see below for the front cover ). Here's the dramatic back-cover blurb that sets the scene: The fate of America is ticking away. Your friend Harry is above suspicion--you think. He's an everyday Joe--likable, respectable, good at bridge, average with the women. He wouldn't hurt a fly--you think. Yet in his room is a closet. On the closet door is a lock. You're a sucker for gadgets and so, just for a gag, you jimmy it. Inside is a box--heavy, lined with lead. And inside that-- IS AN ATOM BOMB!

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."