This weekend Paul went to a flea market, and he came home with this basket (hello, ’80s Dusty Rose!) of postcards for me, for my own collection and to fuel my Postcrossing hobby. I’ve been looking through them, and I have NEVER SEEN so many vintage Holiday Inn postcards in my LIFE.
I think Lounge-Chair Girl is going steady with Standing Guy and wondering why he is talking to Leg-Flirting Girl. That’s a pretty dramatic side-part you’ve got going on there, Standing Guy.
Look, the Holiday Inn is fun for THE WHOLE FAMILY!
Many of the postcards are NON-motel-based, and so far the earliest one is postmarked 1903. NINETEEN OH THREE! It traveled through the postal system for 1 cent, and now here I am holding it 106 years later, while the original sender and recipient are probably—well, “no longer collecting postcards,” how’s that for tactful?
I’ve been poring over all the written-on ones, which so far include the early 1900s and also the 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s (perhaps it would have been easier to say what I HAVEN’T found yet, which is 1920s and 1930s), and I have learned something important about human beings through the ages: we wrote JUST as boring postcards back then as we do now.
In 1913, Pinky wrote to Margaret on a postcard of a hospital: “Not quite like Burbank — but then you can never tell from the outside.”
In 1948, Sis wrote to Sis on a postcard from Hawaii: “Such a beautiful island wish I might stop over longer. Met Grady’s brother wife and baby who live here. Had a nice visit etc with them. Will write later. Was about all in by the time we landed here last night.”
In 1954, Louise writes to Angie on a postcard from California: “We are having a swell time. This is where we go swimming. The weather has been swell so far.”
In 1966, Elsie wrote to Frank on a postcard from Florida: “We are just beginning to get some good weather, now it is time to go home. But have had a nice time & found plenty to do.”
In 1967, Clara wrote to Mrs. Bruce on a postcard of The Golden Gate Hotel: “Arrived here March 3rd in same building as previous years. Weather is just perfect here. 400 apts in this motel, picture is of the hotel on east side.”
In 1976, Helen and Sam wrote to Nellie on a postcard from El Paso, Texas: “Have had a good trip & nice visits all the way since we left on the 12th. We’ll be leaving here for Phoenix tomorrow and will keep in touch.”
Not exactly the peek into the past I was hoping for.
They’re not entirely without interest. For example, isn’t it weird thinking about Grady’s brother’s child, who was a baby in 1948 when that postcard was written, and is now at least 60 years old? Freaky. And I do wonder how a “visit etc” differs from a regular visit. But in general the postcards might as well say “I need to fill up this little square so I can send this.”
Okay, this one is pretty good. In 1990, Linda & Matt wrote to Mom & Dad on a postcard from Aruba: “Hello. Having a wonderful time. We’re going on a quest. Snorkeling. Cave hunting. Shell hunting. May give the Tattoo Party a shot. Explain later.”
What a SUPER FUN flea market find! I, too, am curious about the Tatoo Party.
What an awesome find! *jealous*
I’ve only been postcrossing for 3 months and I’ve already got about 90 postcards to choose from when I get a new address lol. It’s so addictive. Do you get a heap of postcards from/addresses for Finland and Germany?
Ooh fun! You’ve got me addicted to postcrossing as well. Did you get any blank ones in there? It would be fun to start sending those out!
That is a swell find. Just swell. (Louise’s overuse of swell cracked me up.)
I’m thinking Linda & Matt were trying to give Mom & Dad a bit of a scare with the Tattoo Party. That’s just my guess.
i also do postcrossing. i need to find a good source of cards, though. people always want ‘pics of where you live’, maybe i should go to downtown detroit and take some pictures.
Paul should get a little something… extra… for this! ;)
These are great!
Gardenmama has been writing a series of posts about postcards written among two sisters and their mother in the early 1900s. It’s so much fun:
http://gardenmama.typepad.com/my_weblog/2009/07/della-blanche-mrs-wetherbee.html
This sounds like so much fun! I think the reason postcards are so boring is because we all know they are public and anyone can read them. You don’t really want to write something private knowing the entire postal service could read it do you?
I suppose there aren’t any from the 1920s and 30s because they weren’t traveling during the Great Depression. It’s so interesting that even what ISN’T there can give one a peek into the past. What an interesting collection to find!
Oh my! Those are hysterical! I wonder why the old man gets center stage in the 2nd Holiday Inn postcard.
Heather- YES, tons to/from Finland/Germany! I’m trying to find a kind of postcard I want to collect from those two countries so I can mention it in my profile.
Amanda- A bunch are blank. I’m sorting them all out now. I’m looking forward to sending the Holiday Inn ones to people who say they collect vintage cards.
LOVE. that’s all…
Man you must be a sucker for antiques!
Yay for Paul!
I have a postcard from 1914 that shows the house I grew up in. I love postcards–particularly the ones with messages–full story or not.
i used to collect postcards when i was a kid, but then after collecting a huge drawer full… i didn’t know what to do with them. i fear resuscitating that collection ;-)
Oh, wow. Little teaser like that drive me a bit crazy. I want to know MORE!!! What exactly is a tatoo party, or what is it code for???? I will never know!!!!!
That is so neat!!!
Fun!!
I really want Linda & Matt to explain about the tattoo party NOW.
This is SO fascinating. Can I come over?
I think this is awesome! And what a smart thing for Paul to bring you.
These are great! I especially love 1954 Louise; she’s swell.
First of all, kudos to Paul! Second, how cool!
OMG!!! How awesome!
As a postcrosser, I think you should send those to anyone, vintage collector or not. They would definitley stand out! I’ve never gotten anything like that! I think it would be cool to send one of the non-blank ones, too, and just add your message. HOW FUN!
Yay for Paul!
That is the queen mother of all thrift finds. Your husband rocks!
Wow, I’m really impressed with Paul. That’s AWESOME.
I want to know more about the tattoo party.
I think I might be able to shed light on the Tattoo party… Although you all might be disappointed!
Aruba has a rather famous “Tattoo Party Boat.” It’s a night time cruise with a DJ, drinking and a pretty wild time. If I remember the motto, it goes something like “Get a Tattoo!” or “Don’t leave Aruba without a Tattoo!” or someother variation.
However, how much do I LOVE the fact that she put that idea into her mom’s head!
I absolutely LOVE VINTAGE POSTCARDS (and magazines). They are so fun!!!
How fun. Very much enjoyed the last one. Maybe this should be incentive to you to write some interesting/unusual/ postcards so when someone discovers them in another 100 years they’ll think its really something to talk about.
gawd I love that kind of crap! I’m jealous too!! how fun!!!
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Swell? I don’t think I have ever used the word swell. Ever. This crazy cat used it twice in one line! Awesome.
A seriously great find! I know I see postcards for sale in antique shops – and I don’t go to super expensive antique shops, no way – and they’re usually a dollar or two! Each! Yay Paul!
Now all you people are making me want to do Postcrossing.
Great post & project.
Thanks so much for your comment on Mouthy Housewives; I loved it.
Wendi
I used to write “Weather is here, wish you were beautiful” on postcards when I was younger, now I can’t wait to write “I have to fill up this little square so I can send this.”! And I also agree with you about the Lounge-Chair Girly scene. heh.
“And I do wonder how a “visit etc” differs from a regular visit.” I totally laughed out loud at that line. It drives me crazy when people put etc after only one thing.
And I think Linda and Matt are totally screwing with Mom and Dad.
My father-in-law has the same dramatic side part even NOW! And he has a crazy amount of hair still, so I think it’s a style statement rather than a combover, and now I know where he learned it. From the cool kids at the Holiday Inn!