The unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day, has come and gone, despite the fact that June is not quite here yet, and the vacation season is upon us. Vacations became a major subject with postcard artists around mid-century, when postcards stopped being everyday communication ad became brief messages from far away (postage went up,Continue reading “On My Summer Vacation I….”
Tag Archives: Postcards
Mouths of Babes
We have discussed hereintofore the ways in which postcards were the texts of their generation: a quick message (which, in some areas, allowed a person to send a message in the morning, get an answer before lunch, and reply by sunset). We have also discussed how the characters on the card could speak forContinue reading “Mouths of Babes”
Why Is She There?
The postcard shown here came into inventory with a number of other World War II postcards, and it attracted my attention for a number of reasons, including, but not limited to, where a pilot might encounter a cavalryman trying to execute a jumpy, why the pilot is wearing a parachute (unless he’s going toContinue reading “Why Is She There?”
Scurvy Rapscallions
A jolly collection which came into inventory here in Blogsytown is about one fifth of a set of Corsaires. These are colorful portraits of freebooters and privateers (I don’t see ANYOE using the word “pirates”) from Dominique Leroy here–a captain also known as the Pistol Corsair, who was captain of the Foudroyant (Lightning)—to ship’sContinue reading “Scurvy Rapscallions”
Fairy Tales & Such
Folklore has been passed on in many ways throughout the years, from Grandma’s tales to the Interwebs. By “folklore” I mean to suggest any sort of knowledge passed on outside of classroom, from stories of Jack and his adventures with princesses and/or giants to that limerick about the Young Lady from Ryan. Such informationContinue reading “Fairy Tales & Such”
Incoming
As you will certainly recall from our last thrilling installment, this column has been using the power of the Interwebs to warn you of summer dangers which the self-styled guardians of our safety will not talk about. Though you may search online as you please, no one but the postcard cartoonists have bothered toContinue reading “Incoming”
Under the Sea(t)
We have spoken, hereintofore, of the postcard as an early form of social media, as a repository of bygone songs and jokes, and as a certificate for travelers to verify the places they had visited. The postcard had many more roles in our history than as a means of saying “My Room Marked WithContinue reading “Under the Sea(t)”
Tenting Tonight
One of my grandfathers was an enthusiastic outdoorsman. He had no patience with people who thought picnics were a way to enjoy nature and slight tolerance for people who thought camping required a tent. HIS idea of an outdoor vacation was two weeks off the trail with a sleeping bag and a frying pan. Continue reading “Tenting Tonight”
Summer Toms
Spring has sprung, I guess. Around these parts we recently had our first 80 degree day, just a few days after what MIGHT be our last Frost Warning. But I do not, thank goodness, write a weather blog. Not for us, Petunia Cutlet, debates over global warming or fresh water theft. Here, we treatContinue reading “Summer Toms”
Wish You Were
So, when last we got together, we were discussing what I insist on calling the “grade school Valentine postcard”: an aesthetic choice of artists and/or postcard publishers to apply classic Valentine form to postcards which could be sent all year long. This involved a bright picture with a fairly obvious bit of wordplay whichContinue reading “Wish You Were”
