Three Cards and a Sepia

In reverse order. 

Today's scanning and cleanup project had some serious time constraints, since I promised to make a birthday cake for the weekend, and… some assembly required.

Therefore, after I opened up my last – I think – daguerrotype (every time I shift things around in my room, I discover something I'd missed in the last reorganization)…

and consigned it to digital memory…

 I went through a stack of shreds from a scrapbook which was probably started in the early- to mid-1920s, picked out the three surviving photo postcards, and let them be the focus of the day's work:

because. Just because.

And, now, to rest.

Snow Happens… and other stuff gets shared

 I've managed to process a few more of my Real Photo Postcards for viewing – these were in better condition than some, but there was still some work to be done in Photoshop before some could be distinguished from mud. It is this visual puzzle-solving work which, currently, encourages me to get up out of bed in the morning. I can imagine how challenging it would have been for these people be rise and face the day, knowing they'd have to move great heaping masses of white stuff…

Trosky (MN) 1909

Message: "Troskey Minn March 19 19/09
Dear Sister 
We received your letter was glad to hear
from you how is the children
we are well and yesterday
and today is extry fine
and isnt snowing to the beat the
band we haves some banks
around our house on the
[sideways] East west north that
[upside down] was 20 feet high but are 12 I bet
you think I tell a yarn but I (?)
This is the worst winter in
Minn for over 20 years it was
a frite we had 3 offel blizzards
Good by from Sarah + Theo
write soon"

and then turn around and do it again in seven years...

"This is the way it looked around here the winter
of 1916 snow banks 15 feet high had to dig a tunnel
through to get the word you can see the tracks
going over the snow bank to get word before 
I dug the tunnel"

Meanwhile, people still sent postcards of things not peculiarly Minnesota-winter-like:

"June – 1912 –
there is one small rose
bush at the corner of
the side walk. the other
is all one vine It has
pink blossoms. only blooms
heavy once a season. but there
is some roses in bloom most
of the summer and fall months
Minnie
There is a lily and a plant
called baby breath next
the steps and pansies
at the foot of the bush."

fishing or just punting? 

click any image to embiggen. please copy/share if you like what you see

Tiny Treats: Philly Photo Pack

 Last post was full of giant cards. Today, you get the ones that could fit into a watch pocket (that little one inside the front pocket of your good, old-fashioned dungarees). The packet is 2 inches high by 3 inches wide by 25 cards thick, and probably cost a whole penny to mail, if the purchaser chose to do so. I did not choose to (well, I'm not sure the post office would handle it, in its original form, any more. I think they have a minimum size for letters and parcels, & this is far from reaching it), once I brought it home from the auction.

It was intended as a promotional packet, for Gray Line Motor Tours (packet is marked on the exterior with the company name, and "Keith's Theatre, 1116 Chestnut St., Philadelphia").

I've just scanned & cleaned the pix up (slightly – mostly just removed the yellowing & reversed any fading) in P'shop, and submit them for your approval. Click any image to embiggen it. If you like what you see, please share/copy. 

Also viewable/downloadable via my Flickr pages.

Unless you're viewing this on your smart phone,
this image is bigger than the original photo print

Packet, opened out. 

Franklin's Grave, 
Old Christ Church

Smith Memorial Arch

William Penn Statue on 
City Hall Tower

Cathedral and Fountain at
Logan Circle

Independence Hall
Barry Monument in Front

Liberty Bell
Independence Hall

New Art Museum
(Equestrian Statue of Washington in front)

Christ Church

Rodin Museum
(Statue of the Thinker in front)

First Supreme Court House
& Independence Hall

Sky Line View of Philadelphia
from Parkway

U. S. Post Office , Phila.

Betsy Ross House

Fountain at Logan Circle

George Washington Monument
Fairmount Park

Cow Boy Statue, Fairmount Park

Signing the Declaration of Independence

Girard College

President's Chair and Table

Sunken Gardens, Fairmount Park

-Liberty Bell-
Independence Hall

Carpenter's Hall

Lulu Temple

Wm Penn's House
West Fairmount Park

Double Tour of Philadelphia and Fairmont Park
30 Mile Trip in 3 Hours, Fare $2.00
Delightful Tour to Valley Forge
50 Mile Trip for $3.00
GRAY LINE MOTOR TOURS
1116 Chestnut Street 
Philadelphia
• • • • • •
These and similar set of
other cities made by
The Grogan Photo Service
Troy at 21st St.
Chicago, Ill