Alan Mays' photos

"Leap Year 1908. I'm Yours. D. P. Crane, '08."

"Leap Year. I saw you first!" Leap Year --when women are supposedly free to propose marriage to men--was the topic of comic postcards in 1908 and 1912 (see examples above and below).

"It's Leap Year. Sh-ss-h! Here comes one!. Dwig." Postmarked Philadelphia, Pa., Feb. 23, 1912, and addressed to Miss Lettice Mitchel, Beaver Springs, Pa. Unsigned message: "Guess?" A Leap Year postcard by "Dwig," otherwise known as the American cartoonist named Clare Victor Dwiggins (1874-1958).

"Leap Year. Love me little. Love me long!"

"Leap Year. Between the devil and the deep sea."

"This is Leap Year, don't refuse."

"Leap Year. Running after a good catch."

"This is Leap Year, I want to propose; give me a chance before the year goes. 1912."

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park showing the one that almost got away (you know how it is, you find the perfect photo just a little too late for the theme, so post it now and say which theme it would’ve fitted) . Printed on the back of this real photo postcard: "Abernethy's Studios, 29 High St., Belfast. Branches: Belfast: Princess Studio, 19 High St. and 115 Albert Bridge Rd. Newry: 63 Hill St. Bangor Co. Down: Queen's Parade." I guess you could say I was a trophy hunter back in November when I was looking through my collection for this photo postcard. The theme was " and the winner is . . . (a person or a team winning or with an award/medal/prize) ," and I could remember purchasing it, but I just couldn't recall where I had filed it. I located another photo for the theme that week (see below), and I finally found this one about a month ago. Unfortunately, there aren't any visible inscriptions or any other clues indicating why this fellow from Northern Ireland is proudly posing with these seven trophies. He does have a pin or fob of some sort affixed to his vest, but it doesn't seem to provide any information either.

"Washington Birthday Reception, Prof. Carroll's Auditorium, 1102 S. Broad Street, Monday, Feb'y 22, 8 to 12. Special attractions!" Today Washington's Birthday seems to be an excuse for car dealers to hold month-long "Presidents' Day" car sales. But once upon a time, the day to celebrate the first President of the United States was set aside for orations, teas , dinners , and other special celebrations. This paper hatchet is an announcement of one special Washington Birthday Reception that was held in Philadelphia, probably sometime in the 1890s (either 1892 or 1897, I believe, which were years when February 22 fell on a Monday). The apocryphal story about George Washington and the cherry tree is, of course, the reason for the hatchet shape, and the punchline to the story --"Father! I cannot tell a lie! I did it with my little hatchet!"--is printed on the other side (see below). Professor Carroll's title wasn't an academic rank like we use for college and university teachers today but instead identified him as a dance teacher. He may have been a member of the American Society of Professors of Dancing or one of the other dance teacher organizations that were established in the late nineteenth century (for more on this, see Philadelphia Dance Teachers: Taking Steps , a posting on the Philadelphia Dance History Journal blog). I haven't been able to determine what activities or "special attractions" might have taken place as part of Professor Carroll's Washington Birthday Reception from 8:00 p.m. to midnight on that Monday, February 22, although presumably dancing was involved. I did find this complimentary though vague description of a "monthly reception" that was held in 1894 (from A "Doings in Dancing Circles" column in the Philadelphia Inquirer , October 21, 1894, p. 15): "Professor Carroll's Auditorium, 1102 South Broad Street, was nearly full to overflowing at the monthly reception last Monday night, and a prettier picture than this beautifully decorated, brightly lighted hall, with so many handsome well-dressed people, could not be found. Mr. Carroll is such a genial whole-souled fellow and so capable of carrying out to a success such a party as this that one hardly ever questions who will be there, for they know in advance that every one and every one of the best would not be absent on such an occasion."

"Father! I cannot tell a lie! I did it with my little hatchet!" For more information, see the front of this Washington Birthday Reception announcement:

Front cover of a menu for a birthday dinner in honor of George Washington, State Normal School, West Chester, Pa., February 22, 1907. See below for the inside pages and back cover .

Inside pages of a menu for a birthday dinner in honor of George Washington, State Normal School, West Chester, Pa., February 22, 1907. See also the front cover and back cover of this menu.

Back cover of a menu for a birthday dinner in honor of George Washington, State Normal School, West Chester, Pa., February 22, 1907. See also the front cover and inside pages of this menu.

"S. C. Lord, dealer in meats, vegetables, & produce of every kind. All fruits in their season." This Victorian-era die-cut advertising trade card has apparently been trimmed down and probably originally included an address of "8 Cranston, St., Providence, R.I., opposite Hoyle Hotel." For a complete orange-colored copy, see the S. C. Lord card in Richard D. Sheaff's amazing collection of Diecuts .

"The National Surgical Institute of Philadelphia, N.E. Cor. Broad & Arch Sts. Ketterlinus, Philad'a." A Victorian-era "before and after" advertising trade card for the National Surgical Institute of Philadelphia. The "before" part of the card is illustrated by the boy on crutches, who hasn't yet received any treatment. The girl, whose treatment has been so successful that she can now throw away her crutches, shows us the "after" part and demonstrates why we should become patients at the National Surgical Institute. I'm not exactly sure why that prosthetic leg is just lying there on the steps. You'd think they could put it out of the way in a cupboard or closet somewhere so that no one trips over it. Printed on the back of the card: The National Surgical Institute Has been engaged in the treatment of all deformities of the body, limbs, and face; such as Spinal Diseases, Paralysis, Hip Disease, Crooked Limbs, Crooked or Club Feet, Diseased Joints, Hare Lip, Deformities of the Nose, &c. Also, Diseases of Women, Nasal Catarrh, Indolent Ulcers, Piles, Fistula, and other Chronic Diseases. There are no secrets in the mode of treatment, which is usually painless, and all interested are cordially invited to visit the Institute and examine the extensive and ingenious machinery, varied appliances and other facilities. No charges made for examinations, and no cases treated that cannot be cured or greatly benefited. All desired information, and any number of references furnished by calling at, or addressing National Surgical Institute, Cor. Broad & Arch Sts., Philadelphia.

"5/1/1906. Come and join me in a bath. Bathing scene, Heinz Pier, Atlantic City, U.S.A. Seashore home of the 57 varieties." Addressed on the back to "Miss Sue I. Barger, 1307 Flora St., Phila., Pa." This amusing advertising postcard published by the H. J. Heinz Company features the Heinz Pier in the background and includes the food processing company's pickle logo and 57 Varieties slogan. The pier was destroyed by a hurricane in 1944. For another Heinz card from the early twentieth century, see H. J. Heinz Company, Main Plant and General Offices, Pittsburgh, Pa. :

"Fahrt ins Blaue" is a German phrase that literally means "trip into the blue," but idiomatically it suggests something akin to "mystery tour" or "trip to nowhere in particular." This couple took such a trip in 1937, as we can see in this amusing souvenir real photo postcard (mouse over the image to see a close-up of the imaginary plane and its smiling occupants ). Does anyone recognize the location that they're flying over?