found letters and postcards

a catalog of the old postcards ive picked up from thrift stores. submissions welcome!

[pinkshoebox]

[antiqueanimals]

Circa 1920.

via

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Two men play a game of checkers on the beach at Coney Island on September 2, 1946.

Photo: Paul Bernius for the New York Daily News

[yugimoto]

organised some more stamps today, these are from my japan stock book!

[littlestampcollection]

[littlestampcollection]

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Trurc[?], 23[?] IX 19[illegible], N.S.

Stamp: a grayscale portrait of possibly a young Queen Elizabeth in front of a train, boat, and airplane; Postes Postage 7, Canada

Address: Miss Zella Nichols

523 E. Lake Ave.,

Ladysmith, Wisc. 54848

Text: Hi- nice town. At the bay tonite. The ferry to Prince Ed. Is. was great - 1 ¼ hr. ea. way. To Halifax and famous Betty’s Cove tomorrow. Then on to St. Johns. The St Lawrence Seaway was something

Blue herons wading near island. Shopped in old charletown, PEI. Neva, Etna, Sally + I. Nice foursome.

Love Marg.

My note: this one doesn't have a legible date, but i’m guessing it’s from around the same time as the other Zella cards.

Image info: High and Low Tides

Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia, Canada

The Bay of Fundy is world renowned for its high tides, which are the highest in the world. Large freight boats come in at high tide and are high and dry at low tide.

Image: Two photos slipy down the middle by a yellow strip that says “High and Low Tides Nova Scotia”. On the left, a red boat floating while docked; on the right, the same boat in the same place at low tide, sitting on the mud.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Apopka. FL, 1969 Dec 30 PM, 32703

Stamp: a grayscale, statuesque portrait of possibly George Washington (looking suspiciously shirtless?), 5c U.S. Postage

Address: Miss Zella Nichols

523 E Lake Ave.,

Ladysmith, Wis - 54848 -

Text: Happy New Year!

Dearest Zella,

Seems a busy time since coming to Fla. Dec. 10th - Sure have enjoyed being here also the weather is lovely. Linda has had a terrible cold. Thanks so much for the lovely book. But[?] you know I love them. Also[?] time to write the note. My little ones are sure are growing. Hope each day has been a good one for you.

Have faith and hope for peace - love Neva

Image info: First Methodist Church

Apopka, Florida

Image: A photo of a stained glass window in red, turquoise, and gold. It features angels, doves, and Jesus with outstretched arms.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Wisconsin Dells Jul 25 PM 1968, 53965

Stamp: An image of teh statue of liberty partly obscured by the American flag. Text above and below the image reads ‘We Appreciate Our Servicemen’, ‘United States Savings Bonds’, and ‘25th Anniversary’. 5c.

Address: Zella Nichols

523 Lake St

Ladysmith Wis

Text: How about this -

Didn’t know where we were going when we started out, so here we are.

going home tomorrow - Fri. Thanks for the card. Lillian + Monte

My Note: the writer sounds less than enthused about being in Wisconsin Dells, lol

Image info: Greetings from the Wisconsin Dells, the vacation capital of the Middle West

Image: two images of boats on a river, split horizontally by a white band reading ‘Greetings from the Wisconsin Dells’.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: New Orleans, Mar 14 Am 1968

Stamp: a portrait of George Washington in blue ink, 5c United States.

Address: Miss Zella Nichols

Lake Ave (?)

Ladysmith

Wisconsin

Text: Wed. night[?]

Hello dear heart,

You return and I leave!! Toured the French Quarter today and boat trip on Miss. river and Gulf. Starting home via Molder[?] and Birmingham + Am[?] Sunday night.

Mildred Smith Sheraton Charles Hotel

Image info: New Orleans, LA.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop is located in the Colorful French Quarter at 941 Bourbon St., corner of St. Philip St. According to local legend, the pirates Jean and Pierre Lafitte posed as blacksmiths while smuggling their cargoes, “Black Gold”, into the city.

Image: A photo of an old shop with brown shingles and dormer windows. Its exterior has chipping tan paint exposing bricks beneath. A small sign reads ‘Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop’. The signs on the street corner read ‘Bourbon St’ and ‘St. Philip St’. There is an ink stain where the card must have laid against one with a fresh postmark.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Sorrento. FL, Mar 8 PM 1968, 32776

Stamp: a portrait of George Washington in blue ink, 5c United States.

Address: Miss Zella Nichols

523 E. Lake Ave,

Ladysmith Wis. 54848.

Text: March 7-68

Hi, We still are in Florida. When we first came down here it was real chilly but it is warmer up now. How did you like Florida

We are going to leave here the last of March for home. Love

The Hardy’s.

My Note: the first of several cards I have addressed to Zella.

Image info: Cypress trees many centuries old grow far out in the waters of Lake Eloise at Florida’s Cypress Gardens, and together with the brilliant flowers form a picture of the South that will never be forgotten.

Image: A photo featuring several large cypress trees along a bank, alongside swathes of red and pink flowers.

[secondhandpostcards]

this one has no writing or date, but I think it’s pretty. the paper feels and shines like photo paper, and I like imagining it being carefully developed in a darkroom.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Q[illegible]LL, CA, Nov 10 1977, 93534

Stamp: an image of an old US flag with the ring of stars above a red building. United States 13c

Address: Geo. 3648

P.O. Box 6063

Deluth, Minne 55806

Text: you didn’t get my add. so please ans, O.K.

Hi Geo,

Sure a pleasure talking with you on HF625-20010-12’10 P.M [?]. I hope your winter will be a mild one. Wish we could have talked longer. But maybe again soon. If you hear me out there please come back + say Howdy.

God bless you and yours -

Shirly BIW-9937

P.O. Box 4144 Lancaster Cali-93534

My Note: I don't know what the long code is about. My first thought was trucker radio stations, with the context from the part saying “if you hear me out there”, but I don't know what the code would mean.

Image info: Sunset on the Desert

Photo by Free Lance Photographers Guild, Inc.

Image: A photograph featuring a Joshua tree silhouetted against an orange, streaky sunset.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: New York NY Apr 5 6 am

Stamp: green, profile of perhaps Benjamin Franklin framed by a wreath, U.S. postage, 1 cent

Address: Miss Florence Wartinger

118 South 11th St

Newark N.J

Text: April 6’ 1912

Dear Lady Florence

We wish you a joyous Easter and hope you are better

Edgar

My Note: one of my two cards to Florence Wartinger.

Front text/Image info: A Happy Easter

Made in Saxony

Image: A scene depicting a yellow chick hatching from its egg in a field. Pieces of eggshell are surrounded by forget-me-nots. The scene is framed by a garland of colored eggs. The print is old, flaking, chipped and cracked with age.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Bruxelles Brussels -4.10.734[?] [year illegible]

Stamp: 2 stamps: blue grid with a lion emblem, 50c, Belgie Belgique; a dark green photograph of a politician or military figure, 5f, Belgie-Belgique.

Address: Trouts & Lorenz’s

2623 39th

Des Moines, Iowa

U.S.A

Text: 40ct

Dear Folks,

Thanks for feeding[?] the Borbecks. I’m sure I’m going to ned[?] it.

Arrived here yesterday - kinda quaint but it’s really more expensive than Paris. Paying more for a hotel room that is on the 4th floor (no lift) no heat & no petite dejuner included.

Will be in Rome in a couple of weeks. You can write me through Am Exp there.

Am okay - flu all gone. Had a marvelous time in Paris - hated to leave. Was royally entertained tu[?] un etudeant du médecine a la Universitie de Paris - an American I met on the ship. Most of thost[?] contacts have been very helpful.

Not finding much opportunity for taking pit[?]. Rains all the time -

Corky

My Note: the French is wrong in the letter; I elected not to correct it. I have a letter addressed to Corky as well. I’m assuming this one is also from the 50s.

Image info: Bruxelles : Hôtel de Ville

Brussel: Het Stadhuis

Image: A photo of the Town Hall (Hôtel de Ville) in Brussels. There is a white VW beetle and a green truck, as well as a street vendor, in the square.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: two: Bern [rest illegible]; Saffa 1958 Zürich, 17.Juli-15.September

Stamp: grayscale image of an aerial cable car ascending to a mountain, 50 helvetia

Address: Miss Corky Trout

525 E. 81st 4-A

New York 28, N.Y.

U.S.A

Text: 7/24/58

Greetings from Bern!

Received your letter upon docking in Le Havre. Thanks so much for writing! We’re going to try to stay in the little hotel you suggested in London. We really appreciate helpful hints that can save us money! Will also try to call your friends. It’s always fun to say ‘hi’ to people.

Corky, we’ve been having a marvelous trip. Have spent two weeks in France, two days in Barcelona (saw a bull fight), and just arrived in Switzerland after a 2 ½ wk. stay in Italy. Loved Italy! We’ll be in Germany Sunday. Am looking forward to that.

We’re flying into N.Y. from London Aug. 22nd. Will stay at the Sheraton - McAlpin Hotel. Hope to talk to you then. Love, Jan

My Note: I have a card from Corky as well.

Image info: Bern - Zeitglockenturm

Berne - La Tour de l’Horloge

Image: A photograph of the Zytglogge, a clocktower in Bern, Switzerland, against a blue sky. The foreground shows an ornate pillar featuring a colorful knight holding a red flag. The edges of the card have been cut with decorative scissors.

[secondhandpostcards]

Postmark: Quincy ILL. Mar 18 11-30A 1910

Stamp: green, profile of perhaps Benjamin Franklin framed by a wreath, U.S. postage, 1 cent

Address: Mrs. Geo Mindrup

Nokomis Ill.

Text: Mar. 18, 1910.

Dear Mother,

Rec’d your card sometime ago and was glad to hear from you. I am well and trust you are well. [from this point, the pen appears to slowly run out of ink.]

Well I guess tomorrow is your birthday. I am sorry that I can not be with you and help you celebrate, but wish you a happy birthday.

Bye Bye, Your son, R. M.

Front text: [in calligraphy, with capital letters in colorful boxes.]

A happy Birthday

I wish to You,

In it may every dream come true,

May you do all that you would do

And the Sky above be always Blue.

From…………… [unsigned]

Image: An illustration featuring snowdrops against a teal background. The flowers are slightly raised.