If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 654

 

 

 

 

 

Mount Vernon, Washingtion -- Skagit Acres, Field Barn

 

It is a little earlier than some years, but it is time for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.  This card was purchased at the Pop-Up Store at Tulip Town.  The card is printed by Lantern Press, Seattle, Washington and has the title and image number 130704 at upper left corner on the reverse.  There is also a “printed on recycled paper, non-toxic ink – made in the USA” statement on the center line on the reverse.

 

We had not visited the tulip fields for about 4 years; however, past experiences suggested that it would be wise to wear boots if we planned to walk out into the fields.  The day we went it was cloudy with some sprinkles of rain as we were driving, but the rain had stopped by the time we got to the fields. 

 

 

 A few of the tulips were two toned

 

 

The founder of Tulip Town, Tom DeGoede emigrated from the Netherlands to Canada in 1956.  He and his brothers, Hank and John, later moved to Skagit County, Washington where they, and brother-in-law John Conijn, owned and operated DeGoede Bulb Farm..  Tom and his wife Jeannette, started their own farm in 1983 and named it Tulip Town.  In addition to tulips they also raised Dutch Iris, colchicums, gladiolas, alliums, daffodils, and cover crops.  They began offering tours and selling bouquets at their farm and the idea for a tulip festival began.  Originally there were 4 tulip farms participating in the festival which officially began in 1984.  

 

 Tom and Jeannette retired and sold the farm in 2017.  After Tom passed away in 2019, Jeannette wrote a book:  "Tulip Town Remembered" and dedicated it to him.  A review of the book states:  "Readers will hear Jeannette's voice throughout the book as she tells their story.  It is the story of America--immigrants coming here, working hard, having a dream and fulfilling that dream."  The book is available from Seaport Books, in LaConner, WA.

 

 

Today only two growers from the original 4 are still in business, they are Tulip Town and RoozenGaarde.  Bob and I have tried to alternate between these two.  RoozenGaarde has several planned beds, a gift shop, and large fields of brilliantly colored tulips.  Even though it appears to be larger than Tulip Town, it is far more crowded.  Both were founded by Dutch immigrants and both have a large windmill, entrance fees, ample parking spaces, and port-a-potties.

 

 

Tulip Town Windmill with display

 

Besides being slightly smaller, there are some other differences; Tulip Town has one main display that centers around the large windmill and a stream, allows dogs, has a covered pavilion with a beer/wine garden, a small snack bar with some pastries and a few lunch items.  They also have a “Merch” store and a Pop-Up store, a place to order bulbs, an indoor display, and potted tulips on sale.  It is usually less crowded, and has tractor-trolleys to ride in if one does not wish to risk mud and walk around in the fields.   We wore our hiking boots, did not step into any mud, and had a delightful slow walk around taking lots of pictures.  RoozenGaarde does not allow dogs, and has many more designed beds, also has a café, and plants and bulbs for sale. 

 

 

 

 Tulip Town Tractor Trolley.  There were three operating and one in reserve.

 

 

This row had mixed colors

 

Some of the rows had single colored tulips, others had mixed colors.  As can be seen it is still early in the season and some bulbs were just opening or not yet open.

 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://www.hawthornefh.com/obituary/anthony-degoede

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2019/jun/05/

https://tulipfestival.org/news/tulip-town-remembered-by-founder-jeannette-degoede-for-sale-now/

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 653

 

 

 

 

 

 

168 Marseille, La Corniche, France

 

A black & white photograph of waves crashing on the rocks at Marseille, France is featured on this postcard published by La Cigogne (the swan).  The number 168 is found at the left of the title on the front of the card, lower right.  The back does not have a line dividing the address space from the message area but it would be considered a divided back card. 

 

The Corniche is a seaside roadway that follows along the Mediterranean coast near Marseille, France.  The 5 km or 3.1 miles of roadway includes a 3 km or 1.8 mile section renamed in honor of President John F. Kennedy.  There are spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea and 19^th century villas along this short route. 

 

Marseille is the third most populated metropolitan area in France after Paris and Lyon.  The rugged coastal area has fjord-like inlets.  East of the city is Sainte-Baume, a mountain ridge with a deciduous tree forest.  To the north are the Garlaban and Etoile mountain ranges.  To the west is a former artists’ colony called l’Estaque; farther west is the Côte Bleue, the Gulf of Lion and the Camargue region in the Rhône delta. 

 

 

 Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer

 

As I have mentioned in previous postcard posts, it is always fun to find a card that is either a place I have visited or near one.  In 2012, as part of a high school AP French tour group, my daughter, grandson and I briefly visited the Camargue.  The tour bus stopped to give the group a few hours at the beach of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer.  Our guide said the beach was well known by locals but not many tourists went there.  She was always concerned about our safety and warning us about pick-pockets, so we were advised to stick together and not be taken in by people hawking wares at small stands.  The day we were there the beach was nearly empty, with the beautiful azure blue water of the Mediterranean inviting us to put in a finger or toe to test the temperature or perhaps just to say we had been to the Mediterranean.  Thankfully we did not encounter any thieves.  After testing the water, and while waiting for the bus to pick us up, we enjoyed sitting with a few other people and watching some older men playing what looked like bocce ball in a small grassy area.   

 

 

 

 Later that same day we stopped at a farmhouse where we had an outdoor picnic. 

 

 

Picnic shelter

 

 

 Camaraguais

 

The Camargue has its own horse breed, the white Camarguais, that are ridden by French cowboys called gardians.  Our guide explained that the horses develop their distinctive white color as they mature.  This area is also home to over 400 species of birds including flamingos.  We saw a huge flock of flamingos as we were driving along in the tour bus, but sadly did not get any pictures of them.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marseille

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camargue

https://marseille.ca/attractions/lacorniche.html

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 652

 

 

 

 

 

 

Easter Greeting

 

Happy Easter!  The postcard shared this week has a reproduced vintage illustration with a little poem.  The card was purchased from Laughing Elephant.com the small local print shop that specializes in reproducing vintage cards, books, and posters.  The illustrator is not identified, nor is an approximate date provided.  The original probably dates from the early 1900s.

 

Notice the pussy-willows at the right side of the card.  I wondered if there was a legend or story associated with them and Easter

 

In Poland there is a tradition of using pussy-willow branches with palm branches on Palm Sunday.  A Polish legend has Jesus visiting a forest in late winter, just before spring.  He commands his angels to gather pussy-willows with soft cotton buds as the first sign of spring.

 

On Easter they are a symbol of the resurrection, as these fluffy white buds sprout from a dry twig, like the flower of life. 

 

The day after Easter is known as Dyngus Day.  It is an historically Polish-American celebration of the end of 40 days of Lenten sacrifice.  There are games, music, and food.  Water and pussy-willows are used in a game of playful taps.  Pouring water was an ancient spring rite of cleansing and purification as is the complimentary practice of switching with pussy-willow branches that date back to pre-Christian times in Slavic countries. 

 

There is also a little story about kittens who fell into a raging river while chasing butterflies.  The mother cat sits on the bank pleading for help for her drowning kittens.  The willows hear her mournful cries and let down their branches for the kittens to cling to the branches and are safely brought back to shore.  Every spring, from that day on, the willows put forth fur-like buds where the tiny kittens once clung.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://www.wbfo.org/arts-culture/2013-03-22/polish-legend-of-the-pussy-willow-palm-sunday

https://www.dyngusday.com/our-story 

https://laughingelephant.com/

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 651

 

 

 

 

 

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, in the village of Shottery, Warwickshire, England, about 1 mile or 1.6 km west of Stratford-upon-Avon.

 

Like the two previous Thursday postcards, this card also has a tinted black & white photograph and blurb at the upper left on the reverse.  It has a divided back but no identifying letters or numbers or credit to a photographer.  All three cards appear to have been published or printed by the same company.  The blurb on this card:  “Ann Hathaway’s Cottage, Stratford, England.—The house of Shakespeare.  This is a very beautiful photograph reproduction of the celebrated spot and it contains many relics of Shakespeare, and is visited by all lovers of Shakespeare who ever get within a day’s ride of this celebrated place.”

 

The oldest portion of the house is dated 1463.  Originally it was a three-roomed building on one floor.  Known as Hewlands Farm during the time of Shakespeare it had more than 90 acres or 36 hectares of land associated with it making it much larger than the term cottage implies.  Ann’s grandfather, John Hathaway was the first Hathaway to live there in 1542. 

 

After Ann’s father, Richard, died in 1581, her brother, Bartholomew, took over the ownership and began to expand the building beginning in 1610.  Eventually it ended up as a 12-room farmhouse.  Notice the multiple chimneys on the card.  The largest one was used for cooking, the others help spread heat evenly through the house during the winter. 

 

The house was passed down in the family until 1846 when financial difficulties forced them to sell it.  It was occupied by tenants until it was acquired by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in 1892.  The Trust removed later additions and alterations.  There was a fire in 1969 but the Trust was able to restore the building which is now open to the public as museum. 

 

The cottage gardens were redone in 1920 by the horticulturist Ellen Willmott.  Many of the plants found in the garden were mentioned in Shakespeare’s plays.  Three flower beds near the cottage entrance are named Miss Willmott’s garden.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anne_Hathaway%27s_Cottage

If this is Thursday it must be postcads, 650

 

 

 

 

 

The Round Tower, Windsor Castle, England

 

Featured on this postcard is a tinted black & white photograph of the Round Tower of Windsor Castle.  The card has a divided back, does not have identifying letters or numbers but does have a blurb located at the upper left on the reverse.  The blurb:  “The Round Tower, Windsor Castle.—Windsor Castle is in a beautiful valley a few miles outside of London, and is one of the most historical spots of Europe, being the scene of many historical events that transpired in British history in over four hundred years.”

 

The royal residence, Windsor Castle, is located in the English county of Berkshire.  The castle was built in the 11^th century by William the Conqueror and is the longest occupied palace in Europe.  The current owner is King Charles III.  There is limited access to the public.

 

King Henry II ruled beginning in 1154.  Between 1165 and 1179 he repaired and added to the existing castle; replaced the wooden palisade with a stone wall; replaced a stone keep and chemise wall.  To relieve pressure on the mound, he moved walls from the edge of the motte and added foundations along the south side to provide more support.  He also remodeled the inside the castle including the royal living quarters.  The Round Tower seen on the card was built by Henry II and remodeled in the 19^th century. 

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windsor_Castle

 

 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 649

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Nile Bridge, Egypt, ca 1930s

 

This is an unused, divided back postcard with a black & white photograph that was tinted.  There are no identifying letters or numbers, however, there is a blurb at the upper left on the reverse:  “The Great Nile Bridge, Egypt. – The Great Nile Bridge was built jointly by the British and Egyptian governments.  It is a modern structure, and is considered one of the greatest bridges in Egypt.  The crowded condition of this bridge gives an idea of the enormous traffic and how necessary a bridge of this character was.”

 

Today the bridge is named The Qasr al Nil Bridge, sometimes written as just Qasr el Nil Bridge.  It was formerly known as the Khedive Ismail Bridge and dates from 1931.  There was an earlier bridge at this same crossing built between 1869 and 1871 name El Gezira Bridge.  These bridges all spanned the Nile River in central Cairo connecting the east bank of the river to the southern end of Gezira/Zamalek Island facilitating transportation of people and goods between the two banks of the Nile.  Prior to the bridges being built the crossing was done by sailing boats placed next to each other and connected by planks of wood for people to walk on to get across the river.  The current bridge is a popular place to stroll across in the evenings. 

 

The bridge has eight parts, including a movable part that was manually opened with gears to allow boats and ships to cross.  There are four bronze lions each set upon a pillar at the ends of the bridge.  One of the pillars can be seen left on the card.  The bridge is about 10 meters or 33 feet above the Nile to accommodate the river in its flood stage.  

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qasr_El_Nil_Bridge

https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/4/116567/Qasr-al-Nil-bridge-a-reflection-of-Egypt%E2%80%99s-golden-era

 

If this is Thursday it must postcards, 648

 

 

 

 

 

 

Titled:  Benvenuto Cellini, The Rospigliosi Cup (Altman Collection) Italian XVI Century, 

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 31

 

This unused postcard does not have a divided back nor an outline for a stamp on the reverse.  It is credited as “Collotype by Max Jaffé, Vienna, Germany.”  Max Jaffé (1845-1939) was a photographer working and living in Vienna, Austria.  Germany took over Austria in March of 1938, hence the place identification as Germany rather than Austria.  Since Jaffé died in December of 1939 the date for this photo card can be narrowed to between March 1938 and December 1939. 

 

Another interesting thing concerns the Cup itself.  It is not what the title on the card says it is.  It was not made by Cellini in the 1500s. The cup is an original work, but in the style of Cellini; therefore, considered a forgery, made by Reinhold Vasters (1827-1909).  Vasters was a German goldsmith, who in order to support his family, made reproductions in historical styles.  This might never have been uncovered if Vasters' original sketches had not been found.  After the drawings were found, the cup was taken apart and discovered to have been made in ways that were only available in Vasters' own time.  Today the Cup is dated “between 1840 and 1850 or somewhat earlier.”  The Cup remains at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and is on view at:  The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 556.

 

For additional information, see:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rospigliosi_family

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rospigliosi_Cup

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reinhold_Vasters

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benvenuto_Cellini

https://de-m-wikipedia-org.translate.goog/wiki/Max_Jaff%C3%A9_(Fotograf)?_x_tr_sl=de&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=sc