Messages, Captions, Inscriptions

Carlisle, 12/1, 1904 My dear little Carrie: Honestly now aren't you also on the pig? When you kill yours, save me a nice piece of ham, and I'll be up and take dinner with you. You may also keep a few young chickens handy. (If you're "on the pig's back," it apparently means that you're lucky or well off.)

A written inscriptions and messages photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. In his message to Bertha on this real photo postcard, Sam humorously explains Lena's absence from the novelty photo by saying that she's hidden under the seat of the wagon in order "to keep the dust off of her." Denver, Nov. 19 Hello Bertha, we are coming towards home. Have got Lena under the seat to keep the dust off of her. If our horse holds out, we will be there by the end of the week. Goodby, Sam & Lena

Ducking under "umbrellas or parasols" over at the Vintage Photos Theme Park . Margaret Thomas of Peoria, Illinois, sent this real photo postcard to Jane "Jennie" Klinger of State College, Pa., in 1907. The "picnic at Bradley" notation along the right-hand edge of the postcard may indicate that the photo was taken at the Bradley Polytechnic Institute (now Bradley University) in Peoria. Peoria, Ill. 9/8/1907 Dear Jane, The umbrella is hardly big enough for two, like you and I, but as trees grow to be very old in that country we might someplace find a kindly shade that would suffice for such a pair. Wish I could be with you all today. Yours, Margaret Thomas Picnic at Bradley 9/2-1907 Addressed on the other side to: Miss Jennie Klinger State College Pa. Centre Co. Care Bathgates RR

A friends photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "I look as though I didn't have a friend in the world in this picture, don't I?" An unused real photo postcard with no postmark or address. I'm not sure that the poor fellow looks as friendless as he thought he did. I like photos like this that include comments from the subject or photographer about the photo.

Do you have ideas for future topics for the Vintage Photos Theme Park ? If so, please add them to the Suggestion Box ! A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of cats (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . "Looking through the news you may see something which might interest you. I will send the papers to you. J.R." A real photo postcard with a cat that's literally looking through a newspaper in 1906. For another postcard with a similar punning message, see Breaking the News, Lititz Express, July 4, 1907 .

A cyanotypes photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "You can use this to keep the mice and rats away. Yes, I will keep the dog in and put out the key. A.S." Addressed to: Miss Maud W. Parker, North Lubec, Maine. Postmarked: South Lubec, ME, Oct. 18, 1906, and North Lubec, ME, Oct. 18, 1906. The joke about a photographic portrait being so bad or ugly that it scares away rodents, insects, and burglars was evidently a common one in the early twentieth century. Another version, for instance, appeared in a 1911 letter sent to American musician and composer William D. Dawson: "My Dear Mr. Armstrong: I duly received, welcome, and possessed myself of your portrait and am glad to have it. At the same time I am ashamed to recall that I have so long neglected to acknowledge it or to send the reciprocal photo to you. I have autographed one this evening and it will be shipped by freight tomorrow. It is warranted to scare away rats and burglars" (see W. T. Norton, William Dawson Armstrong, American Composer , New York: Breitkopf & Härtel, 1916, p 87). For another 1906 real photo postcard with a "scare away the rats" joke, see Guaranteed to Rid Any Cellar of Rats, Roaches, or Other Creatures (below).

The handwritten message (see below) on the verso of this real photo postcard takes up the entire space on the back, and there is no address or stamp. -------- Marian, 15th March 1914 Dear Brother, A few lines to let you know that we arrived home again after a splendid holiday. This photo is my son and daughter (Frances and Ned) taken at the foot of Leura falls, Blue Mountains, 60 odd miles west of Sydney. It is not a very good photo as it was a very rough place and we had to climb down steps for about 2000 feet below the surface. The climate there is like our old home in Ireland--they have snow falls very often--but it seems too cold for me to live there. It seemed nothing to see people with overcoats on morning and evenings. I now conclude by sending best respects from all to yourself, wife, and family. From your loving sister, Nora Write soon.

A real photo postcard showing two couples--Cal and Grace, Harry and Alvilda--picnicking somewhere in or near Portland, Oregon. See also a cropped version of this photo showing a close-up of the picnickers and their box of Abetta Biscuits. Posted as a barbeque/picnic photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park group. Handwritten message on the front (above) by "Alvilda," who's the woman on the right in the photo: This is Cal and Grace, Harry and I, out on a picknick . Printed on the back: Cal Calvert, 10 Minute Postcard Man, City Park, Washington St., Entrance, Portland, Oregon. Mazeograph process. Copyrighted. Handwritten message on the verso (there's no address, stamp, or postmark): Hello, Mama and Papa, When are you coming to see us. We are having lovely weather and would like for you to come before the rain starts again. Cal and Grace was down and spent the eve last night. Business is doing fine now. Hop-picking is over you know and people have money now. Good bye, your Alvilda.

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard:

"Guaranteed--to rid any cellar of rats, roaches, or other undesirable creatures. In case of failure to do so as represented, your money cheerfully refunded and no questions asked . September 15th, 1906 A.D." Addressed to: Miss Olive L. Carpenter, Box #99, Yantic, Connecticut. Postmarked: Philadelphia, Pa., Sep. 16, 1906. Judging by a Find A Grave search, the recipient of this real photo postcard was probably Olive L. Carpenter Bullard (1878 - 1917) ("wife of E. E. Bullard"), who is buried in the Yantic Cemetery, Norwich, Connecticut. If so, she would have been 28 years old when she received this postcard in 1906 and only 39 when she died in 1917. I wonder if it was her husband who sent her this card. For another real photo postcard with a similar "scare away the rats" joke, see Use This to Keep the Mice and Rats Away (below).

Based on the messages written by Louise, a former teacher, on the front and back of this postcard, this photo shows two young students dressed in rabbit costumes for a springtime (possibly Easter) school program in Ault, Colorado, in 1910. They're posing in a backyard (perhaps a schoolyard) and seem to be holding a string between them. Handwritten message on the front: "These are the two rabbit characters which made such a 'hit' in our closing program last spring. Mrs. Harding and I made the costumes." Postmarked: Ault, Colorado, Oct. 13, 1910. Addressed to: Miss Grace Burgess, Victor, Colo. Handwritten message on the back: "Dear girlie, Since I am not teaching, I am so busy doing nothing that I don't seem to find time to write to anyone. Wanted to tell you that I have joined the Christian Church. Louise." See also a cropped version of this real photo postcard for a close-up view of the rabbit costumes :

For more information, see the full version of this real photo postcard .

A Vintage Photos Theme Park photo of squinting into the sun (subjects obviously struggling to keep eyes open while facing into the sun for the photographer; borrowed from a Flickr group) . For additional examples, see my album of Vintage Squinters . Handwritten on the front of this real photo postcard: "Aug. 28, '07. Dear Grandma: I told you I was coming Thursday, a [week?]. How do you like Helen and I? I am not very well, Mary." Addressed to: Mrs. Mary E. Mock, Stoyestown, Pa., Route 2. Postmarked: Friedens, Pa., Aug. 28, 1907.

A tattered & torn (or otherwise damaged) photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten caption: "Remember that day." Handwritten note on the back: "Isn't this sweet. Give me one in the place of this." An undated and well-worn photo taken at Jefferson Rock , which overlooks the town of Harpers Ferry , West Virginia. According to Wikipedia, "The name of this landmark derives from Thomas Jefferson, who stood there on October 25, 1783. He found the view from the rock impressive and wrote in Notes on the State of Virginia that 'this scene is worth a voyage across the Atlantic.'" Note that the silhouette of someone's head and shoulders is visible in the background between two of the pillars that hold the top slab of the rock in place. Here's a 2009 view of the rock taken from a similar vantage point:

A photo of flowers in the garden for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Handwritten note (above left): "Eleanor Henderson, Eva, Texas Co., Okla., Oct. 24, 1914." There's no message or address on the back of this real photo postcard. Little Eleanor posed with her dog among the flowers and plants, all rendered in blue due to the cyanotype photo processing.

"Hartman Gish - 3 yrs. old." A real photo postcard postmarked Richland, Pa., July 26, 1907. Addressed to: Miss Charlotte Gable, Schaefferstown, Leb. Co., Pa. Handwritten message on back: "Thanks for the beads. Hartman likes them so much. He even slept with them. Pardon me for not writing sooner. Don't Hartman look natural. Clara is coming on Sat. Lovingly, Christie."

A mothers photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Nelson P. Smith displayed a playful sense of humor with a mischievous message on this real photo postcard dated April 10, 1910. I'm guessing that the photo is a portrait of his wife and son. Mrs. Matilda Maria Thomas Exhibit No. 16390 Ladies and Gent: You have here before you two relics of the Antediluvian period just discovered in a small town, situated in a swamp in Florida, supposed to be the descendants of mound builders or some extinct race. Look like mother and son. Ages supposed to be son, 4 mos., April 10/10. Nelson P. Smith

A birds or bees photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. Those poor kids don't seem to have a clue that they're about to be carried off by that raptor that's swooping down upon them. Or at least that seems to be what we're supposed to think with that stuffed bird suspended above them. I'm not sure why these children are riding in a decorated cart pulled by a donkey. There's no address, date, or postmark on the other side of this real photo postcard, but there is a message written in French that I haven't had any success in deciphering.