Postcard Finds & Curio

Postman

THE POSTCARD ALBUM

POSTCARD PRINTER & PUBLISHER RESEARCH


	Unusual address side designs

	Quite some publishers worldwide tried to give their own products a special design to make it different from others on the market. Although they had to keep postal regulations and restrictions in mind.



		I understand the panorama view found on address side to be that of Sellersville. It might be not a unique idea, I have seen similar designs on cards from New York City, but this sample from Pennsylvania is much better, makes the card well worth collecting in my opinion.




		The picture side shows the Residence of Wm. H. Becker, South Main Street, Sellersville, PA. An imprint reads: ‘Photo by Zeigler, Souderton’ and ‘Post Cards Published by C.M. Berkemeyer, Sellersville’.


		Algeria, Northern Africa, people at a drinking water fountain. The address side of this card shows an untypical layout for the time, despite all the strict regulation of the postal services. This collotype printed views was mailed to London in late April 1904. Are there any other similar designs (also from other countries) around?

	Publisher imprint reads: Arnold Vollenweider, Photograveur, Alger. From German-speaking country? Nice view!


	What is it all about?

		Two women in the rain, the one in the rear probably Japanese or Chinese (?) At lower right a handicapped man in a rolling cart and a dog. Feet of a woman and a man, the rest hidden. Some Japanese or Chinese writing. No publisher, artist, series number or whatever mentioned. German production of pre-1905 date, not p/u. Perhaps you need the entire series to get an idea what it is about. Comments welcome!


	Mysterious Design:

	When shall we meet again. Two cows, or also a bull and a cow and a circle stamped out and arranged in the middle, filled with silver ink(?). Below Nr. 1, 2, 3 imprinted (`Nr.’ and not ‘No.’). Printed in Germany. Another imprint reads ‘No. 3 Patent in all countries’. Address side shows a “Postal Card” imprint only. Mailed from Hanover, PA, USA to Belfast, Ireland in July 1906. Incomplete mechanical card? Any other suggestions? (coll. D. Bailey)


	Mysterious ‘Shorthand’ Publisher(s):


	A nicely done view from a place somewhere in the Mediterranean (I guess). Excellent chromolitho printed. Mailed in Germany in Nov. 1903. No publisher or printer information except the shorthand-type imprint on address side. The problem: back then there were several different shorthand versions around.

Any help with “translation” much appreciated!


	Now it becomes odd. A most unusual card, the background unknown. It reads: “I will gladly pay a second time to have the fellows kick you in the face”. Divided back (Germany post-1905), not p/u and ‘Postcard’ in 3 languages. Card no. 143. Chromolitho. Along the short side on back another diff. shorthand imprint. Identified now? More information soon.


	More postcards with shorthand-type imprints are known.


	Topsy-turvy?



	Which is the address, and which is the picture side design??



	Another most unusual design (discovered by Chris Ratcliffe). The embossed illustration is the address side, the fence turned into writing lines. The typical picture side shows only a “Gruss aus” imprint. The writer appears to had been irritated a little bit, arranged the message along the sides. P/u in April 1902 within the city of Chemnitz, Saxony. No publisher mentioned, only the number ‘137’.


	Exceptional printing quality!



		German New Year greeting card, looks like an adaptation of Japanese art style design. Or at least influenced by. Anonymous publisher, p/u 1914 under Printed Matter rate. This unusual card design was produced using 3 different processes: lithography, sprayed / airbrush and steel-engraving. Well balanced look, glossy raised black ink of tree and bushes with matt background colours. Excellent!


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