If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 440

The Conway Mastodon, The Ohio Historical Center, Columbus, Ohio, ca 1970s

This postcard has a photograph by Paul M. Rowe of the Conway Mastodon found in Clark County, Ohio in 1875.  The skeleton was on display in the Orton Museum at the Ohio State University until the early 1970s when it was moved to the Ohio Historical Center in Columbus.  The unused postcard was published by Aladdin Studio, Columbus, Ohio and made by Dexter Press, Inc. of West Nyack, New York.  The number 77889-C appears under the space allotted for a stamp on the reverse.  The Conway Mastodon skeleton is regarded as one of the largest and finest examples in the United States.

Weighing about 4 or 5 tons the American Mastodon, found in the eastern states, was built like a tank with heavy, stout limbs, broad shoulders, a low cranium, two or three teeth in each jaw for masticating twigs, branches, and aquatic vegetation.  Its distant cousins, the woolly mammoth and the Columbian mammoth, found in the western states, had more slender limbs, slopping backs, humped craniums and only one tooth in each jaw better for grinding abrasive grasses. All three stood about 10 feet high at the shoulder.  Mammoths are more closely related to Asian elephants while mastodons do not have any surviving relatives.

Mastodons lived in herds and were mostly forest dwelling with a mixed browsing and grazing diet similar to living elephants.   They probably disappeared from North America about 10,500 years ago as part of a mass extinction believed to been caused by the pressures of human hunting. 

For more information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mastodon
https://geosurvey.ohiodnr.gov/portals/geosurvey/PDFs/Newsletter/Winter90.pdf
https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/the-conway-mastodon/BwGDwrm_nFRCHg

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 439

Hardenberg Castle, near Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany, ca 1911

This used postcard has a photograph of the ruins of Hardenberg Castle, seen at the top of the hill, located on the river Leine, about 10 km or approximately 6 miles north of Göttingen, Germany.  The card has a postmark date of 2? 8 11 [2? August 1911].  The handwritten date in the message is 24 August with no year.   The card has the number 22407 and the name of the publisher:  Kunstverlagsantalt A. J. Bellson, Cassel, Wolfsschlucht 13, printed along the left margin on the reverse.  The picture is a “Real Photo” and A.J.Bellson was an art publishing company. 

Both the castle and the town of Göttingen have beginnings around 1100, with what became eventually a city, first part of a village called Gutingi in 953 AD.   The city was formally founded between 1150 and 1200 AD and the Electors of Mainz built the castle about 1101.  In medieval times the city was a member of the Hanseatic League and a wealthy town.  In 1409 the ownership of the castle was split between two family branches.  A thunderstorm in 1698 partially destroyed the castle and it was abandoned in 1720 eventually becoming a ruin.  Descendants of the Hardenberg family still own the castle but live in a nearby manor house.  The Hardenberg-Wilthen distillery was founded in 1700 and today is the second largest liquor producer in Germany. 

Visitors can take tours of the castle ruins and grounds.

For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nörten-Hardenberg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Göttingen
http://www.pizzatravel.com.ua/eng/germany/9/castle_and_palace_hardenberg

If this Thursday it must be postcards, 438

Vintage Valentine, ca 1910

Recently I stumbled upon some reproduced vintage illustrations that had been made into oversized postcards, Valentines and books of postcards.  LAUGHINGELEPHANT.com specializes in Victorian and Vintage postcards, books, greeting cards, stickers, notebooks and other gift items.  Since it is the day before Valentine's I chose three to share this week.  Although they are not dated, the name of the illustrator was given on two of the cards and the style appears to be from the early 1900s. 

The card above has the artist's signature, Rose O'Neill, at the lower left.  Rose Cecil O'Neill 1874-1944) had a successful career as a magazine and book illustrator.  She is the creator of the Kewpie, (from Cupid) seen on card.  Her Kewpie cartoons debuted in a 1909 Ladies Home Journal and by 1912 Kewpie dolls were being manufactured by the German porcelain company,  J.D. Kestner.  Later Kewpie dolls made of composition and celluloid were one of the first mass produced and marketed toys in the United States.  The Kewpie cartoon figure was the most widely known cartoon character until Mickey Mouse arrived on the scene.  The character and the dolls made O'Neill's fortune and fame. For a time she was the highest paid female illustrator in the world.  Besides the Kewpie characters O'Neill was active in the women's suffrage movement. She also wrote several novels and books of poetry.

Vintage Valentine, ca 1910

This second postcard, above, has an illustration by Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle (1865-1934) who was one of the most prolific postcard and greeting card artists of her era.  She specialized in one sided cards that could be used as postcards or kept as souvenirs.  She was a freelance artist and her works were often used in advertising, calendars, paper fans, porcelain goods, and on trading and greeting cards.  Clapsaddle is credited with over 3,000 souvenir/postcard designs.

Valentine, ca 1900-1910

The third card does not have the full name of the artist only what looks like the initials "LL" at the lower right by the hem of the dress.  Judging from the style of the women's dress and hat it appears to date slightly earlier than the other two cards, perhaps between 1900 and 1910.  The box I purchased has several more cards so if I can find out anything else about the other cards they might pop up for Valentine's Day 2021.

Pope Gelasius I established and designated the 14th of February as the Feast of Saint Valentine in 496 AD in honor of the Christian martyr, Saint Valentine of Rome, who died on that date in 269 AD.  February 14th first became associated with romantic love in the 1300s during a period of courtly love.  By the 18th century it had grown into an occasion for couples to express their love for each other by presenting flowers, confections, and greeting cards called “valentines.”  Candy companies, like Cadbury, were creating fancy heart shaped, decorated boxes filled with chocolates.  Besides the heart other common Valentine’s Day images included a winged Cupid, doves or lovebirds, and flowers. 

While not an official holiday, people in many countries observe Valentine’s Day.  Typical gifts in the 19th century included flowers, candies and handwritten notes and handmade lacy cards with expressions of love and romance.  Mass produced greetings cards later replaced the handmade valentines.  By the second half of the 20th century the sending of cards had grown to the giving of all manner of gifts including jewelry. Millions of valentines are exchanged each year.  Today it is also possible to send e-cards, love coupons, and printable greeting cards on the Internet.

In the United States about 190 million Valentine’s Day cards are sent each year, mostly to children.  Additionally school children exchange millions of valentines with classmates, teachers and friends.  In addition to chocolates, small conversation hearts with messages on them have been associated with Valentine’s Day.  Individually wrapped Dove chocolates also contain messages and come wrapped in pink foil around Valentine’s Day.  Small chocolates, such as, Hershey’s Kisses and Hugs & Kisses are also wrapped in red or pink foil at this time of year. 

Interested in vintage artwork, cards, books etc?  Check out LAUGHINGELEPHANT.com.

For additional information, see:

https://laughingelephant.com/39503/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Valentine’s_Day
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose_O'Neill
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Clapsaddle

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 437

Ernest Ansermet
[photo from the collection of Laurent Kasper-Ansermet]

This week’s postcard is a first day cover, a postage stamp on a cover, postcard or stamped envelope.  First day covers frequently have a pictorial cancellation, such as this one with the music treble clef, name of the city, and the date.  The card is unused; therefore, it was not sent through the mail and not cancelled as most stamps are on used cards.  This type of card is a collector item but not as coveted as a used and officially cancelled card on the exact day or first day of issue.  A card like this one might have had the first day postmark applied weeks or even months after the date indicated so there is no way to tell if the card was purchased on the exact date printed in the cancellation.  First day covers often have an illustration that relates to the theme of the stamp.  This type of illustration is called a cachet.  The photograph of Ernest Ansermet on the right side is the cachet on this postcard.

Ernest Ansermet (1883-1969) was a Swiss orchestra conductor who rose to international prominence after World War II through a long-term association with Decca Records.  Originally he was a mathematics professor at the University of Lausanne.  He began conducting in 1912 at the Casino in Montreux, then between 1915 and 1923 he was the conductor for Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes.   During those years he met and consulted with Claude Debussy and Maurice Ravel about how their works should be performed.  He also met Igor Stravinsky and began a lifelong interest and association with Russian music.  In 1918 he founded his own orchestra, the Orchestre de la Suisse romande (OSR).  He became famous for accurate performances of difficult modern music on his travels in Europe and America.   He was also one of the first in the field of classical music to take jazz seriously.

For more information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_day_of_issue
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Ansermet 

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 436

Sphinx of Naxos, Greece

The photograph on this unused postcard is of the Greek Sphinx of Naxos.  Although there is no message or address on the card and it does not appear to have been used it is stamped with a date:  25 IV 58 or 25 April 1958.  It is hard to tell if this was in lieu of a stamp like some pre-stamped postcards that can be purchased.  The only other information on the reverse is “Mimosa” printed on the center dividing line and “Kiel” printed at the bottom of the center line.  I found this card in with a jumble of mixed cards at a local antique mall and was attracted by the elegance of the statue.  

Ancient sphinxes can be found in many different countries and also in more modern artwork.  During the Renaissance there was a major revival of the sphinx image in decorative art.  Stylized sphinxes, as sculptures and images, can be found in Art Deco works as well.  

Originally the Sphinx of Naxos was a 7 ft or 2.2 m tall sphinx mounted on a 32 ft or 10 m tall column with ionic capitals and erected next to the Temple of Apollo in Delphi.  Today it is displayed in the Delphi Archaeological Museum.  Unlike the Egyptian sphinx that has a male head, the Greek sphinx has a female head.  The Greek sphinx was considered to have ferocious strength and acted as a guardian with one or more often flanking a temple entrance.  Viewed as treacherous and merciless the sphinx would pose riddles to those wanting to enter or pass by her.  If the riddle could not be answered or was answered incorrectly she would kill and eat the individual. 

The sphinx was also associated with royal tombs.  Designed to look like a bird of prey, with the chest and wings composed of impressive carved feathers, the tips of the wings are turned upward.  The body is that of a lioness. 

Fragments of this statue were excavated from the Temple of Apollo sanctuary in 1860 with the remainder found in 1893.  It was carved from a large piece of Naxian marble.   The solid construction gives the impression of motion and vitality with details of hair, chest and wings.  Most carvings at the time, around 560 BC, were reliefs while this one is three-dimensional.

For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sphinx_of_Naxos

If this Thursday it must be postcards, 435

Stens Masugn, Grafversfors, Sweden, ca early 1900s

This vintage postcard with a photograph of Stens Grafversfors [Graversfors], Sweden has an undivided back and no postage stamp.  A note on the address side of the card states that only the address is to be written on that side.  Divided backs replaced undivided backs around 1900-1910 in most countries making it possible to guess at the year the card was sent.  Without a stamp or postmark it suggests that the card may have been sent in an outer envelope with a letter or in a package instead of being mailed separately.

Reverse

Addressed to Carl Sköld, the message under the picture says:  “A greeting from mother.”   I think it is possible that this scene was a familiar one to Carl who may have lived near here before he left Sweden for America.  Carl was born in 1886 in Kvillinge, Östergötland, Sweden.  He immigrated to the United States at the age of 17 in 1903 and first lived in McKeesport, Pennsylvania where he was living in 1908 and filed the Declaration of Intention papers to become a naturalized citizen.  He received his citizenship in 1914 when living in Seattle, Washington.  That puts the date of the card to between 1903 when he arrived and 1907/1908 when divided backs were introduced.

The scene shown on the card is of Graversfors mill or stone mill named after Jacob Gravers who started the mill around 1736.  Carl Ekman, another mill owner, bought Graversfors in 1857 because the furnaces at his original mill were not sufficient for the manufacture of iron.  Ekman built a new furnace in Graversfors in 1860.  In 1861 the railway line between Katrineholm and Norrköppnat opened for travel.  Then in 1869 the Graversfors post office was established.  From that time until the 1920s Graversfors thrived with trade and had a school.  Times turned bad and the mill was closed in 1936.  The post office closed in 1964 and rail traffic ceased in 1969.  The station house was demolished.  Today Graversfors consists mostly of recreational buildings.

For more information see:

https://sv.wikiopedia.org/wiki/Graversfors
https://www.ancestry.com/

If this is Thursday it must be postcards, 434

“The Flood,” Flemish tapestry, ca 1550
[photo:  Jerzy Malinowski]

This postcard has a photograph by Jerzy Malinoswki showing a group of people struggling with the waters on a fragment or section of the tapestry titled “The Flood.”  Krajowa Agencja Wydawnicza [KAW] distributed the card.   The tapestry is part of King Sigismund Augustus’s collection found at the Wawel Royal Castle in Kraków, Poland.  The design is one created from a drawing by Michiel Coxcie and dates to about 1550.

Sigismund II Augustus, born 1520 and died 1572, was the son of Sigismund I the Old.  He was King of Poland, and Grand Duke of Lithuania.  His reign covered the years 1548 to his death in 1572.  He was the last male member of the Jagiellons and although he was married 3 times he died childless thus ending the reign of the line.  A passionate collector of jewels he was said to have had 16 chests of precious items including a ruby worth about 80,000 scudos as well as a diamond medal with the Habsburgs Eagle on one side.  He also collected tapestries and is recorded to have had 360 pieces commissioned in Brussels between 1550 and 1560. 

Michiel Coxie (1499-1592) was a Flemish painter.  Coxie studied in Rome where he painted the chapel of Cardinal Enckenvoirt in the church of Santa Maria dell’Anima.  However, his principal occupation was designing for engravers.  He returned to the Netherlands where he continued to work on altarpieces.  In 1541 he became the court painter to the Regent Maria of Austria.  Later Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, by Philip II of Spain and by Fernando Alvarez de Toledo, Duke of Alva, patronized him.  During that time he also designed tapestries for the Brussels looms. 

Traditionally tapestries are woven by hand on a loom with wool, linen or cotton as the thread although sometimes silk, gold, silver or other alternative threads might also be incorporated into the designs.  Decorative tapestries could be rolled up and moved from place to place as desired by the owner.  Typically the designs might include symbols, mottoes, coats of arms, religious and mythological images, or hunting themes.  Tapestries were also hung on interior walls of castles for insulation during the winter.

Wawel Castle located in Kraków, Poland was built during the 13th and 14th centuries at the behest of King Casimir III Great.  It consists of several structures surrounding an Italian-styled courtyard.  In 1978 the castle was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Kraków.


For additional information, see:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sigismund_II_Augustus
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michiel_Coxie
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brussel_tapestry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tapestry
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wawel_Castle