Curated blog of quirky, interesting messages from real vintage and wartime postcards, including many sent by soldiers and sailors during World War II.
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]
I love how the message on the comic side, “Just Married,” matches perfectly with the life events on the reverse. It seems that every possible milestone and location has been mentioned, from one coast to the other (Maine to California) and even the big sky country in between. This postcard is delightfully all over the place.
Hi Nick-
Had nearly forgotten about that $5. Little more delay then will fwd to you in Calif. Next straight to Conn(?)., got married, a ’47 Chev, then drove to Mont, now heading to Presque Isle, Me (23rd FE. Ny.) Next project is getting a new car, then freedom from the above!
Hope to see you & family, please ans. to Ny address after I write again.
Red Serginson (T/Sgt)
Postmark: Fargo, N. Dakota, Aug 12, 1951
“Can’t you architects do anything without a blueprint?”
Related Postcards:
Same Recipient: “Walter Nikkel” – Nice spot in the Azores [1953, Portugal]
Wartime postcards are among my favorite finds. This one features two famous Parisian landmarks on the reverse.
The Treaty of Versailles had been signed and Armistice Day was not far in the past when this postcard was censored by a U.S. Army Captain. The Great War was all but over for this soldier who apparently had some free time to visit Brussels. I can’t imagine what harrowing things he experienced during his service in Europe, but I am glad he seemed to make it through.
More information about WWI postcards via the Smithsonian National Postal Museum: http://arago.si.edu/record_76880_img_1.html
France Apr 8/19
Your kind letter received and was very glad to hear from you. Had a pleasant visit to Brussels Belg. and Paris. Oh you Paris. Hope this finds you well.
From
Ges[?]
Censored by Captain U.S. Army
To:
Postmark: U.S. Army with “Passed as Censored” Stamp
Image: Place de la Concorde, Paris. Obelisk with the Arc de Triomphe in the distance.
This postcard comes from a fascinating time and place. Sent from Italy (as indicated by the postmark), the sender mentions writing it on the shores of Galilee in the first years of the new nation of Israel. If you can translate the Hebrew text, I’d love your help reading what it says.
Tuesday, Jul 25, 1950
Dear Paul, This is written on the shore of Galilee. Whole trip has been wonderful. Have kept going day & night the past ten days in Palestine. Israel is making great progress. We’re coming home soon as possible now, the Lord willing. Best wishes to you & your family – George W Dettoff
To:
Postmark: Ferrovia, Roma 1950
Stamps: Italian 20 lire & 50 lire
I once spent Christmas (when my husband was deployed) speaking German with a Greek friend, at her grandparents’ Gasthaus in Bavaria — not a blood relative of mine within several time zones. This postcard is from a sender who is also far from home at that time of year when most of us are trying to get “home.”
Spending the holidays away from home is always an interesting prospect. In this case, the sender is also undertaking a business endeavor — building a steel mill in Turkey. I do wonder if they completed the project within the two years they mention in the postcard.
If you too ever have the chance to spend the holidays in a more adventurous location, I recommend giving it a try.
12/11/77
Greetings from Istanbul, Turkey. Rausu[?] Engineers and I are trying to build a steel mill, hopefully before spring 1979.
Seems like a long way from Dearborn, Chicago and friends which makes holiday season a little more meaningful –
Ginny[?] & Joe Faloon
Kucuk Bebek Lad[?]
Bebek Istanbul Turkey
To:
Image: Istanbul – The mosque of Soliman the Magnificent and the Golden Horn
Postmark: illegible, Turkish postage
Though it did pass through the mail, there isn’t really a message written by the sender except a name. So, I picked this one for the artwork and the postmark. I love the vibrant graphic on the front of the card.
Aunt Maggie
To:
Postmark: Robesonia PA. Dec 22, 1930
Lost Greetings 