Birtth Congratulations Postcard : Baby Boy and Stork

Today's postcard is a charming Barton and Spooner postcard intended to be sent to congratulate the parents of a baby boy. I love the strategically placed ribbon!

 

This great postcard can be found in my eBay store here: Birth Congratulations Postcard Baby Boy and Stork and my bidStart store here: Birth Congratulations Postcard Baby Boy and Stork
 

RPPC POSTCARD EGGLESTON CABIN STEVENS LAKE WI

I have to share this postcard today because I am so excited about my research results. Whenever I have an unidentified Real Photo Postcard with clues about location or subjects, I do a Google search to see if I can find out more. My first search, "Stevens Lake", yielded results in several states - I suspected Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin or Michigan but couldn't nail it. I next searched "Eggleston Stevens Lake" and found a 1908 obituary for Ralph Eggleston of Stevens Lake who drowned when he went through the ice on the lake. He left a widow in "delicate" condition (I assume this meant pregnant) and four young daughters. Ironically, he had his gun with him and the postcard shows a row of dressed deer on the right side of the cabin. The postcard is in very good condition but the image is not the best - it looks like it was snowing when the photograph was captured. There is a Velox stamp box - dating the card between 1907 and 1917.

 This card is currently listed as an auction on eBay:: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=160538445799&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT


Here is a link to the Forest County Historical Society Obituary: Ralph Eggleston Drowned

Real Photo Postcard Three Women Fishing Maple Plain MN 1913

This great RPPC (Real Photo Post Card) is a candid shot of three women in a rowboat with bamboo fishing poles. It is postmarked 1913 at Maple Plain Minnesota. The ladies are not identified - the postcard is written in Swedish (or Norwegian or Danish) and is addressed to Mr. Gust Emanuelsen in Minneapolis. Is great to see that our foremothers had some time for a little fun and did not spend all of their days cooking, cleaning and sewing!

You can find this great postcard in my eBay Store here: RPPC THREE FISHERWOMEN IN ROWBOAT MAPLE PLAIN MN

NATIONAL FLAG SERIES POSTCARD LADY IN FLAG ENGLAND

This postcard takes patriotism to another level!  I have come across many flag waving men, women and children but this is the first rather risque (for the period) view of a woman draped in a flag with a "come hither" look. It was published by Alfred Holzman, Chicago IL as part of the "National Flag Series -no 80". It is postally unused and has rounded corners with a light stain on back.

This postcard can be found in my eBay store here: NATIONAL FLAG SERIES POSTCARD LADY IN FLAG ENGLAND

Roadside Americana Postcard: Pyramid Supper Club

I have a fondness for "roadside" postcards - the tackier the better. I think today's card fits the bill to a "T". The postcard boasts: "America's Most Unique and Beautiful Supper Club, Authentic Egyptian Theme and Decor". This establishment was built in the 1960's and is located 5 miles east of Beaver Dam WI on Highway 33. I discovered that the most recent incarnation, "The Pyramid of the Nile", closed on New Year's Eve 2009 due to the economy (according to the website: Pyramid of the Nile).


You can find this great postcard in my eBay store here: PYRAMID RESTAURANT BEAVER DAM WI ROADSIDE POSTCARD

Advertising Postcard from Minneapolis Grocery 1939 Heinz Products

I just love this postcard on so many levels! First of all, it was published by a grocery store in my hometown, Minneapolis MN. The store was located in the Linden Hills neighborhood, just a couple of blocks from beautiful Lake Harriet. The business district at the time was on a trolley line serving cottages and country homes. Today the neighborhood has many charming shops and has an urban "small town" ambiance.


It is surprising to note that the prices of the Heinz products are not that much lower than prices of similar products today, 70 years later (when you consider the cost of living - home prices, gas, automobiles etc). I thought it would be interesting to compare prices to today's Heinz products, but discovered that many of them are available only in the UK!


This card can be found in my eBay store here: Heinz Ad Postcard Hawkinson Grocery Minneapolis MN

Pilot Whales Ashore At South Wellfleet Cape Cod MA

I've come across versions of this postcard a few times and have always wondered about the story behind it. Back in whaling days, fisherman drove the blackfish (pilot whales) ashore so the oil and meat could be harvested. It was a communal effort so the they all shared in the great bounty. This particular event took place in 1884 at Old Wharf Point. The 1500 whales were sold for $15,000 which was shared by 300 members of the community. Nowadays great efforts are made to save beached whales!

 This postcard can be found at auction right now on eBay: BLACKFISH ASHORE SOUTH WELLFLEET CAPE COD MA POSTCARD