Real Photo Postcards

This 1908 real photo tall-tale postcard by William H. Martin shows presidential candidate William Howard Taft (later president, 1909-1913) at a campaign whistle stop. Martin evidently intended the oversized vegetables that surround the railroad car and crowd to represent the prosperity that would result if voters elected Taft president.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park on the topic of children standing on chairs . Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Christine Nonemaker Shutt." From what I've been able to determine, little Christine Nonemaker grew up in York County, Pennsylvania, married a William R. Shutt, and thereafter went by the name Christine A. Shutt (1913-1985). Does anyone know why there are so many studio portraits of children standing on chairs? Was there some practical reason for this, or was it just a way for the photographer to show off his stylish furniture? For more photos of kids vertically positioned on seats, see my Children Standing on Chairs album.

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Bertha."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Eugene Myers." Printed on the verso: "The Wilson Studio. No. 225-227 W. Market St., York, Pa. No. 420 Market St., Harrisburg, Pa."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Cindy, 2 years old."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Grace Reber."

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "Erma Herr." Embossed in lower right-hand corner: "Wolf, Lancaster, Pa."

There's no date or identifying information on this real photo postcard of a young girl who's posing for a picture as she stands on a chair in front of distinctively patterned wallpaper.

Written on the back of this real photo postcard: "To Grandma from her grandsons. Henry, 3 years old, and Louis, 16 months old." Embossed in the lower right-hand corner: "Louis A. Blaul, 56 N. 8th St., Phila."

An at the piano photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten note on the back of this real photo postcard: "3/24-12. Taken March 10, 1912, about 1:40 p.m. Parlor and sitting room. First sitting. M. B. Wittle, Elizabethtown, Penna." A man sits at—or at least near—a piano in this wonderfully detailed glimpse into a parlor and sitting room in Elizabethtown , Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in 1912. Judging from the note, Milton B Wittle (1877-1963) was the subject and/or the photographer. Mouse over the image above for closer looks at the lamp and fern , the top of the piano (with a stuffed squirrel and cornet!), the Hasbrouck Cabinet Grand Piano and stool , the mustachioed man and the fish bowl , and the man in his chair .

For more information, see the original photo :

For more information, see the original photo :

For more information, see the original photo :

For more information, see the original photo :

"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 real photo postcard.