Curated blog of quirky, interesting messages from real vintage and wartime postcards, including many sent by soldiers and sailors during World War II.
Through some quick census research, I’m fairly sure this postcard was sent by Herbert to his father. It boggles my mind that this postcard was sent nearly a century ago.
Another view of the Castle. Am on my way to Taulon and St Raphael. Am in Marsailles now.
Yours
A. C. Umberger
To:
From:
Postmark: U.S. Army Post Office M.P.F.S. Mar 20, 1919
It’s so much fun to imagine Rilla’s trip across the pond and stay in Paris (minus being surrounded by seasick passengers). I’m not sure whether I admire her desire to integrate herself into French culture, or if she’s instead a little self-impressed with her own mastery of the local language.
Here’s a bit of historical context: The French Line in the 1950s.
Sept 30, 1950
Dear Margaret,
The ocean trip was wonderful. I love the French line. The food was out of this world. 6 courses for each meal. I was fortunate enough not to be seasick in spite of a storm the first three days which got most everybody.
I love Paris, but haven’t seen many of the sights yet. I’ve been room-hunting for a place in a private home. There’s too much English spoken at the Maison Américaine, a dormitory where I am now. It’s very cold here. Write.
Love, Rilla
To:
Postmark: Paris XIV Av du General Leclerc – Sept 30, 1950
Stamps: 5 franc & 10 franc
This one comes from a period of great upheaval in Cuba, but the sugar cane still needed to be harvested.
Havana – Jan 20th
The sugar-cane harvest begins this week. We saw the carts being loaded as we drove from Matauzas this morning.
Love,
Grandmother
They cut with machetes. Gram
To:
Postmark: Miami, Fla. – Jan 21, 1956 – Fight infant paralysis Join March of Dimes
Front image: Cutting sugar cane. Habana. Corte de Caña
This dad misses his sons. I miss the time before TSA screening lines.
But, this is really a very sweet postcard message from a dad.
6:15 Sun NITE
Hi boys,
Daddy is sitting in the place while they re-fuel and take on food for our supper in Knoxville. I wish you could see the big DC-6 I’m on. And the weather is so pretty. I do wish you could have flown with me.
Please be good boys, and I’ll be writing you every single day.
Love, Daddy
To:
Postmark: Washington, D.C. – Nov 5, 1961
Stamp: $.07 US Air Mail
Image: American Airlines 707
It seems that the “National –insert cause here– Week” concept has been around for much longer than I thought.
At its introduction, one had to pay a premium for air mail service (24 cents) compared to regular first-class mail (3 cents). With the serious occupational hazards the first air mail pilots endured, I think the price was justified.
According to Edward A. Keogh, 1927, the earliest Air Mail service in the United States carried many more postcards than other type of mail, by a landslide, though the dates over which this tally was amassed is unclear.
| Postcards | 32,415 | 87% |
| Letters | 3,993 | 11% |
| Circulars | 1,062 | 3% |
| Total | 37470 |
Though postcards are becoming rarer, we are now more dependent on air transport of mail than ever. How could we get our online purchases “over-nighted” without our packages continuing to take to the sky?
Side note: Philately is far too competitive for my taste, but I recently learned more about the famous “Inverted Jenny” stamp, the holy grail of stamp collectors valued at about $1 million. The stamp came about because of the rush to produce the 24 cent air mail postage. I much prefer the humanity that is revealed on vintage send postcards, but it’s also a hobby that’s much easier on the wallet than stamp collecting.
Wow, Gladys seems pushy.
Oh, and Happy St. Patrick’s Day.
Jonny are you dead or alive. Why don’t you answer my letter. I wont probably get it unless you put it care of A. J. Macie. hope you will write a good long letter.
From Gladys
Postmark: North Sheldon, VT. April 18 1910
To:
For some reason I picture Anne as being very stylish. She definitely seems to be fond of hotel hopping.
Jan. 15, 1932
Hello John!
Just moved over to this hotel. It’s better looking. We have been having snow & plenty.
Toodle-lo
Anne
Postmark: Olympia, Washington – January 16, 1932
Image: Hotel Olympian, Olympia Washington – Western Hotels Inc.
More than a century ago, Fred sent this simple note to his sister in London from somewhere in colonial India. The building pictured on this card still exists at Mount Abu. See the modern building here: http://camahotelsindia.com/camarajputana/ The politics of colonialism are sticky subject at best, but that doesn’t take away from this being a snapshot of an interesting time period in history.
My favorite line: “I remain your affectionate Brother.” Siblings simply don’t address each other with such flowery language anymore. I am as grateful for the advance of modernity as the next gal, but text messages and twitter don’t compare to a quick handwritten message like this one.
If you can identify the postmark, please let me know!
Image: “Mount, abu Club.”
Ds. W.
Just a few lines in answer to your letter hoping this will find you quite well as I am alright at present. Excuse card[.] will right letter next week[.] hoping Lizzie is quite well.
I remain your affectionate Brother Fred
To:
Postmark: LONDON.S.W. Nov 9, 1908
Illegible Postmark (India) BOL–? (Stamp missing.)
Anne is a girl with some spunk. I wonder what traveling around Washington State was like after the market crashed only a few years earlier. And she and whoever she’s with seem to get around with no trouble. And all these years later, we still talk about the weather.
Hello!
How is the weather down there? We’ve crossed the Rockies now so we have no snow, but plenty rain & it’s cold.
Love, Anne
Postmark: Everett, Washington – December 1931
Image: Hotel Monte Cristo, Everett, Wash. – Western Hotels Inc.
Intriguing because of its brevity, this postcard was presumably sent to make the recipient aware that the sender made it to Switzerland. The Liebensbergers clearly knew about this trip ahead of time, but they don’t know much more after reading this note.
Rain the first day.
Postmark: Luzern, Switzerland – November 11, 1966
Image: Luzern, Kapellbrücke mit Pilatus (Luzerner Tracht) [Luzern, Chapel bridge with traditional dress]
Lost Greetings 