Punning Postcards

This comic postcard from the early twentieth century shows a woman munching on an article from Harper's Bazaar . Scattered on the table in front of her are issues of Munsey's Magazine , Scribner's Magazine , The Ocean , and Cosmopolitan .

Even if ewe didn't do it on porpoise, please quit your lion! (Sorry, I couldn't resist!) Punning humor from a 1910 postcard with an illustration of a lion (which itself is lyin' or reclining) that substitutes for the word lyin' (as in fibbing).

Printed on the back of this postcard: "Th. E., L. Theochrom-Serie No. 1210|6. Printed in Germany." Postmarked Baltimore, Md., Apr. 7, 1910, and addressed to Miss Ella Killinger, Mongul, Franklin Co., Pa. Handwritten message: "How is your five o'clock beau. Just the same I guess. With love to all and from the girls. Our address is 2334 E. Monument St., Balto., Md. From Ellen Truer." Anyone know what a "five o'clock beau" might refer to? A boyfriend that you only see after work perhaps?

"The Revolt of Turkey. Bernhardt Wall. Copyright 1907 The Ullman Mfg. Co. New York. 2130." This appears to be a case of domestic poultry unrest rather than foreign political intrigue.

A French hand-tinted real photo postcard. For another postcard with a similar image, see Breaking the News, Lititz Express, July 4, 1907 :

"The Fireman. A Dealer in Chops." Axe chops, of course, not pork chops!

An elephant on a vintage postcard.

Ouch!

"In memories oft' I close my lids, pleading that you be good and let me hold your kids."

"You know how much I love you, but I just cantaloupe [can't elope] with you." See also You Had Better Ask Papa :

"It's great fun to have a spoon under the pale bashful moon."

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 .

"You auto have a happy Halloween. Oct. 31. Painting only copyrighted by International Art Pub. Co. 1908."

A Bamforth real photo postcard with a punning caption. Another Bamforth card, Ain't Marriage a Cinch! , makes use of the same wallpaper:

"Coming round your way to wish you many happy returns of your birthday. Mary A. Munden. Zing." Addressed on the other side to "Mr. Frank Draine, 1201 Poplar Street, City," and postmarked Wilmington, Del., Nov. 20, 1905.

The humor in this postcard is dependent, of course, upon the fact that "beau"--a boyfriend or sweetheart--is pronounced the same as "bow." To My Affinity From One Who Has No Bow If of me you sometimes think, send to me a bow of pink. If for me your love is right, send to me a bow of white. If for me your love is true, send to me a bow of blue. If for me your love is dead, send to me a bow of red. If for me your love is keen, send to me a bow of green. If you have another miss, send to me a bow like this.