Alan Mays' photos

"A Happy New Year. 1881. 1880. Enenea R. Stead, Jan. 1st, 1900." Although originally intended as a New Year greeting in 1881, Enenea R. Stead (if that's the correct name) evidently used this calling card nineteen years later on January 1, 1900.

"Happy New Year. Gussie Stevens."

An undated real photo postcard.

"A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, 1910-1911." A novelty postcard with an attached photo. The card was made from heavy card stock, and the design—including the flower—was cut or slashed into the paper. A single handwritten word—"Post-Card"—appears on the back of the card. I've found a couple of references to similar "razor-cut art" pieces, but haven't been able to learn much about them. I do have some other postcard examples with "A. Trenner, artist, New York, Atlantic City" printed on the back, and razor-cut art work on the front. A couple of other cut-work postcards are part of the "Kesto Graphic Series." Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down much information on A. Trenner or the Kesto Graphic Series. Here's another postcard (below) that's missing a photo but is otherwise similar to the one above. A couple of other razor-cut pieces (see below) seem to be novelty calling cards bearing the names William Polk and Margaret Harper .

"A Merry Christmas, 1913." A novelty postcard decorated with "razor-cut art," including a flower and oval frame (for a photo) cut or slashed into the heavy card stock. For a similar card, see A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, 1910-1911 (below).

Novelty calling card on heavy card stock with the design cut or slashed into the paper. Although I have a number of these cards, I haven't been able to locate any information regarding their origin. For another example, see Margaret Harper, Franklin, Pa .

Novelty calling card on heavy card stock with the design cut or slashed into the paper. Although I have a number of these cards, I haven't been able to locate any information regarding their origin. For another example, see William Polk .

It's Santa Claus who's wielding the gun here, but other vintage postcards show naughty children trying to make off with Santa's toys (see below). The twenty-fifth of December, If you will remember, Comes but once a year: So smother your curses Hand over your purses And don't try to interfere.

Postmarked Franklin, Indiana, Dec. 21, 1916, and addressed to Miss Nellie Templeton, Greensburg, Indiana. Handwritten message: "Dear Nellie, May you and yours have a Merry Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year. Hester Magill."

"Shawsville Store, Christmas, 1907. Wishing your a merry Christmas." A real photo postcard addressed on the back to "Mr. Charles Preston, Rocks, Maryland." The postmark indicates a Maryland origin--it probably came from Shawsville, Maryland --but is otherwise illegible. A separate "rec'd" mark, however, specifies that it arrived in Rocks, Md., on Dec. 26, 1907.

An undated photo.

A with Santa photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. For a similar real photo postcard, see 3194 Miles to Santaland :

See also a detail from this real photo postcard showing a close-up of the guns and ammunition displayed on the table (below).

See also the full version of this real photo postcard (below).

Metal tags on the men's hats identify them as "Conductor 118" on the left and "Conductor 115" on the right.

A small Victorian-era greeting card that's about the size of a modern business card. This is a generic "stock card" that could have served as a calling card, advertising trade card, reward of merit, or--as in this case--greeting card, depending on what was printed on it. The colors of the leaves in the illustration, of course, suggest an autumn theme rather than a winter-time Christmas celebration.

A handshakes photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. I'm not sure what to make of the young men in this real photo postcard from the Penn Park Studio in York, Pennsylvania. Both are shaking hands with their right hands as they hold cigarettes in their left hands. The fellow on the left is wearing what appears to be a somewhat scruffy military uniform dating to World War I, but the one on the right is outfitted in what may be a cowboy get-up, with a hat, neckerchief, revolver, holster, gun belt, and boots. Compare this photo with another one from the same studio that shows two soldiers shaking hands (below).

Den Krampus soll der Sputnik holen, Weil er die Kinder hat bestohlen! I'm not sure of the exact translation of the rhyming lines on this Austrian postcard (dated 1961 on the back), but I believe the general idea is that Krampus is making his getaway on Sputnik (which evidently can refer to a rocket as well as a satellite ) because he has just taken the children's pretzels and other treats, ones that St. Nicholas gave to them.