Blogger, Facebook, Twitter ...

How is a person supposed to do all of this social networking, live a quasi-normal life AND run a thriving business? I don't know but I will say that tweeting and facebooking have been my occupations of late. I am not sure any of this makes a bit of difference - am I networking in blank cyberspace? Is anyone really interested in what I have to say? I decided to forge ahead anyway - I have a few Twitter followers but I think most of them are just trying to sell ME stuff like "how to sell on ebay" guides etc..or porn. I don't even know how you are supposed to get people to be a fan of your Facebook page short of paying for advertising (not in the budget)! The facebook page is really pretty with all the postcard images and one of my best friends is a fan (the rest of my family and friends evidently decided not to sign on and who could blame them if postcards aren't your thing?)

So to all of you who have stumbled upon this blog I will make this offer: Follow me on Twitter, Become My Facebook Fan or Follow this Blog and you can buy one postcard and get another postcard FREE (choose from any of my Buy-it-Now eBay listings priced at $10 or less). Just send me a message through eBay to let me know who you are, that you are a follower and the item number of your free postcard (don't Buy-It-Now or I will have to pay fees). One per customer - offer good until canceled.

Here I am on facebook: Moody Mommy's Marvelous Postcards Page
Here is my Twitter ID : MoodyMommysPCs
Here is my Blog: Moody Mommmy's Marvelous Postcards Blog

Merry Widow Hat Postcards

Franz Lehar's 1905 operetta "The Merry Widow" lent its name to the newest fashion in ladies' hats during the Edwardian period. These hats were often outrageously sized, wide brimmed and decorated with expensive feathers and flowers.

In 1908 J Grollman produced a series of Merry Widow Hat postcards poking fun at this fashion. I listed one of my favorites on eBay this week:

"VINTAGE MERRY WIDOW HAT POSTCARD LADY ON COFFIN 1908"

Here are a few of the others in this 16 card series:






  Update February 2011: 
I have found a few other Grollman Merry Widow Hat postcards to add

 

Back to work - or perhaps not since the day is glorious and all work and no play....

TTFN
Moody Mommy

You can find my Merry Widow Hat postcard listings in my eBay store here: Moody Mommy's Merry Widow Hat Postcard Listings

Back to work

It's been awhile since I've posted. We have had a family emergency and I had to take an unscheduled break from my eBay business. It always takes me so long after a break to get things rolling again - I have been busy with a backlog of shipping and listing.

I attended the Twin City Postcard Club Spring show last week and found some great cards! I am excited about listing them - just wish there were more hours in the day!

I listed several fun ones last week. Perhaps my favorite is this one of the Grizzly Bear Rug Display at the Holt Reinhart Department Store in Montreal QC. I wonder if they still have this department? It can be found on ebay here GRIZZLY BEAR RUGS HOLT RENFREW DEPT STORE QUEBEC QC POSTCARD :
I started to list a postcard of men scaling a wall of marble at a quarry in Carrara Italy when I became curious about the name of the recipient (the message referred to drawings for a Virgins Chapel). A Google search revealed that the recipient was Emmanuel Masquery, a noted architect at the turn of the century. He spent the last years of his life in St Paul and designed the Roman Catholic Cathedral in St Paul and the Basilica in Minneapolis. Cool! It can be found here:
CARRARA MARBLE QUARRY ITALY POSTCARD TO EL MASQUERAY.


I'd best get back to work now - more later.

TTFN

Mary Ann

Hot Bird and Cold Bottle Postcard

This double entendre term was used around the turn of the century to connote a dashing "Man about Town". The "Hot Bird" was either a woman of dubious (translate 'loose') morals or a hot meal and the "Cold Bottle" was usually champagne. Although the idea of this saying strikes my feminist nerve, I really like the artwork and the outrageous costumes! Since the fellow is costumed as a cocky rooster, I guess the "hot bird" could be the male from the female point of view.

Often postcards illustrate popular sayings and songs from earlier eras that do not translate well to modern day sentiments. There are many comic postcards that I don't understand at all!

This postcard is currently listed on eBay: FOLKS IN COSTUME HOT BIRD COLD BOTTLE POSTCARD 1912

I am really busy scanning and listing today.

TTFN
Moody Mommy (Mary Ann)

The Joy Court Motel - If You Stop You Stay

You are a Stranger here but once "If You Stop ~ You Stay"
A Good Court & Service Station
US Highways 54-60-285
East Vaughn NM

You have to love the hopeful motto of the Joy Court Motel in East Vaughn NM! The motel boasts of modern tub or shower baths, attached garages and inner-spring mattresses! It looks like Interstate 40 bypassed Vaughn to the North and left the motel to the occasional off road traveler. A check of motels near Vaughn (2000 population 500) doesn't list the Joy Court.
I can well remember when Texaco gas stations looked like this with a couple of pumps and required a key to use the restroom.

I have a passion for old motel postcards. They almost always had a motto. Even the tiniest 9 unit motels had AAA affiliation and sold postcards. Holiday Inns pretty much put an end to places like this, but in my opinion, roadside America is much more boring today!

I will feature other motels here from time to time and will soon start blogging about another of my passions, "Tacky Postcards". This postcard can be found on eBay here.

I have a motel, restaurant and roadside category in my store: Roadside Motels where you can find 1200 more "gems" like this one!

TTFN
Moody Mommy (Mary Ann)

Green Man in the Moon Postcard?

I have to admit that this one is interesting but has me stumped! It looks to me like cherubs are trying to get the Man in the Moon drunk ...and succeeding, evidently, judging by moon's the pallor! I can't figure out what occasion would warrant such a card.

The caption reads "To wish you 'All that you wish'". Perhaps it is meant as a multi-purpose greeting card? It is postmarked 1910 which would have been contemporary with the Temperance Movement but perhaps that is a coincidence, or perhaps not.

It is embossed and printed in Germany with no information regarding artist and publisher. It would be a great addition to a "Man in the Moon" collection even if it is not completely understood. It can be found here: Ebay Item 370176607448.

TTFN ~ Moody Mommy (Mary Ann)

Large Letter Postcards

I have always loved linen large letter postcards. They bring back memories of souvenir stands we visited on family vacations during my childhood in the 1950's. They are perfect mini travel posters with views of cities or states squished in the shapes of the letters. While postcards are collected world-wide, the large letter form seems to be unique to the United States. The linen large letters date from the 1930's through the 1950's.

I listed this group today. I have to confess that my favorite is the one from Miami Beach.

I have several more in my store and list new ones whenever I can find them. Click here to see the large letters I currently have listed.

TTFN
Moody Mommy ( Mary Ann)

Lincoln Centennial Postcard

"ABRAHAM LINCOLN THE MARTYRED PRESIDENT"



I listed a great postcard last night. It was printed in 1909 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Abraham Lincoln's birth. The card caught my eye because this year is the Bicentennial anniversary. It was published by E Nash as part of the Lincoln Birthday Series No 1. It is embossed and features a cameo picture of Abe and an image of Lady Liberty visiting a woman in mourning attire seated on a bench by five soldier graves. The text of Lincoln's letter to Mrs Lydia Bixby of Boston MA who was reported to have lost five sons in battle during the Civil War is included (As it turns out, Mrs Bixby was a Confederate sympathizer who destroyed the letter. Two of her sons were killed in battle, one deserted, one was discharged and another either deserted or died as a POW. Whatever, it still is a great letter! [In my opinion, EVERY mother who loses a son or daughter in service to this country deserves such a letter]):

"Executive Mansion,
Washington, Nov. 21, 1864.

Dear Madam,--

I have been shown in the files of the War Department a statement of the Adjutant General of Massachusetts that you are the mother of five sons who have died gloriously on the field of battle.

I feel how weak and fruitless must be any word of mine which should attempt to beguile you from the grief of a loss so overwhelming. But I cannot refrain from tendering you the consolation that may be found in the thanks of the Republic they died to save.

I pray that our Heavenly Father may assuage the anguish of your bereavement, and leave you only the cherished memory of the loved and lost, and the solemn pride that must be yours to have laid so costly a sacrifice upon the altar of freedom.

Yours, very sincerely and respectfully,

A. Lincoln"

The postcard is listed on EBay (ending March 25th): http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370175514857

I have 9,000 GREAT postcards currently listed on eBay. I will be back soon to feature another favorite.

TTFN
Moody Moomy (Mary Ann)