Letters referring to postcard collecting

Posted March 2, 1906, this embossed card by Novelty Souvenir Co. was sent to Dorothy but intended for "Harry", as the letter states: "Dear Dorothy, I am sending this P.P.C. for Harry. I sent one to you at the beginning of the week. Your letter to H arrived safely yesterday. He is working at the other end of City, (still for the C.P.R. you know) therefore is feeling too tired to wrie when he gets home. He thought you would be anxious if you did not get a reply as quickly as previous letters . He will write to you next week. Fondest love from us both, H + E." Exactly where the photo is on the Assiniboine is unclear, although my guess would be that that is the Main Street Bridge -- not sure, but if it were the case then "ice leaving Assiniboine" would be literally true.

Russell Lang & Co. card showing a composite of photos of native people. Undivided back, likely c. 1903.

Back of the Toronto Island card by A. H. Cooper of Toronto (in the "Land of the Maple" series). The writer notes that it costs 10 cents to go to the Islands and also frets about the card itself: "I don't know if the children will like these PCs but it's an awful job to get any good cards here."

"Dear Edie, This is where some of the people go to have a bath. And it is getting quite hot enough for it now. This is a new kind of card out + I know you will like it." Addressed to Miss E. Choppin, Man of Kent, High St. Eltham, Kent, England. Postmarked July 8, 1908.

This Valentine & Sons moonlight card (no. 101,806) was sent by Alfred J. Clark with the typewritten message: "139 Spadina Ave. Toronto, Ont. , Canada 19.2.1911 Dear Miss Leech, Shall be glad to exchange cards with you Mr. T. Walker as [has?] done collecting so gave me your address. I shall be gald to hear from you SOON. What kind do [you?] like. Yours Etc. Alfred J. Clark." Interestingly this message is typed across the entire back but there is a cancelled stamp in the stamp box -- it looks as though the card was mailed in an envelope and then Miss Leech cut the stamp off the envelope and pasted it over the stamp box on the card. Kind of a pretty moonlight card showing the amusement park at Hanlan's Point on Toronto Island.

Postmarked at Toronto, November 7, 1906 "Nov. 7th 06 Another view of Muskoka Lakes by moonlight. Guess you had better start a "Canadian Book" for P.C.'s. What do you say? I am sending five [crossed out] six this time. Hope you get them all." The fortunate recipient was Miss D. Mulhern, Craignair, Higham Road, Woodford Green, Essex, England. Valentine & Sons no. 100,518.

To Miss A. Smith: "One more of the Niagara series to come. Are you not getting tired of the Niagara cards? They have been so long in coming.

Addressed to Miss M. Kinnell, 7 Gillespie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland and posted at Hamilton, Ont., on September 23, 1907. "Your cards are certainly the nicest views I get anywhere, must be a beautiful country all right enough. The rapids shown in this view here are very fierce, boil + roar, and kick up quite a racket. A man was mad enough some years ago to try + swim them but that was his "finish". Sincerely, EBT." Valentine & Sons no. 100,843. Note the admonition on the front of the card to "just pass by" the writer's North American slang.

Valentine & Sons. no. 106,719 is a lovely multiview of the Rosedale Ravine. The message, which fills the entire back, reads: "Dear Lily, What do you think of this P.C. This is very near where we live. Ocourse [sic] it is not all like this a few miles from here is the city of Toronto + that is almost like London only it is cleaner. With love from Daisy. P.S. Frank always remembers your P.C. Album + wishes it was his."