Summer postcards
If ever there was a time for postcards, it is summer time. Brief snapshots from a road trip, or a quick ‘hello’ from the cottage, summer postcards capture the memories. And when they are vintage postcards they give us a glimpse into the past.
Notice in the postcard above from 1958, when Gary refers to his mom as “Mother hasn’t been well.” I just loved that. It would seem though that Gary didn’t put sufficient postage on his postcard leaving the recipients of the card to pay the “4 cents due.”
“Hi Nana…”
The public gardens of Halifax, Nova Scotia are depicted on this next postcard circa 1960. Although not shown, it was sent by Berty to her Nana. I particularly felt an affinity for this summer postcard because I used to have a Nana too AND she was from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
“Always place your return address on all your mail”
Some good advice stamped on this postcard that still applies today, “Always place your return address on all your mail.”
Because it is difficult to read in its entirety, I will attempt to decipher the message on this postcard from Frances:
Dear Mother, Molly, Janey. Our watches have just been put back one hour. We hope to make it to Winnipeg tonight but would have to drive 500 miles anyway. We did 2800 Friday and then on Sat. 435. Saw Dorthy Aitken at the Soo (2 hrs there). I don’t know how Dad stood the black flies. We camped last night!! Need I say more? Just entering Port Arthur now. Wish you were with us. There is 311 miles to Kenora. Thank you for lunch. Love from us all – Frances.
Cruis’n down the highway
This car is amazing! Can’t you just imagine cruising down the Trans Canada Highway in this beauty? This is the front of Frances’s postcard and is east of Nipigon, Ontario.
If you are like me, I sometimes wonder what to do with the postcards I receive as I can’t bare to throw them out. Here are some ideas for what can be done with postcards.
Will you send a postcard this summer?
Next up is the oldest postcard, in this batch of postcards, from 1911. On the front is the ‘Main Block, House of Parliment, Ottawa. Canada.” From the number in the corner it may have been from a series of postcards of the sights in Ottawa.
It was sent to a Miss Betty Cash in New Philadelphia, Ohio. No street address or house number. To see the front side of this postcard visit my facebook page.
I thought the inked stamp on the third postcard, referring to putting your home address on all mail most interesting given that it is a postcard. From my experience, a return address on a postcard is rarely included as space is so limited. What is your opinion? Do you include your return address on a postcard?
What if you could get “easy peel” labels?
Then you could put your return address on it, stick it on the front and the recipient could then peel it off if they wanted to keep the front unspoiled.
Stefan, That is an absolutely brilliant idea!! Thank you for the suggestion. I must give it a try.
I never did put my return address on postcards, but started to recently. I think it’s because I received a postcard and when I went to write back I was going to have to get up and find the address, but then saw it was in fact written on the postcard. Good idea! So now I do, too.
Hi there Chrissy, It is definitely handy if return address is on postcard, especially if it is first time someone has written you or you don’t have anyway to send a return piece of mail. I just find it takes up so much room to include it. Maybe labels would help me? 😉 Either that or write smaller.
Great selection of postcards! And to answer your question, no, I don’t put my return address on postcards, but always on other mail.
Roseanne, I don’t either. But I am thinking about it. And, yes, always on other mail. Hope you are well. Watch your mailbox 😉
Great postcards!
Aren’t they something, John?! I just loved them. The handwriting of the one sent to Nana (not shown) was from a child. So fun to see it. Just ran out of space to include in the post. Thanks for reading along.