Wild Postcards A (Re)Collection

The more things change

Shirin sends along these vintage views of Singapore and reminds me that the Hotel Raffles, pictured at the top, is the birthplace of the Singapore Sling — meaning folks were sippin’ on gin and juice long before Snoop Dogg had something to say about it.

Also pictured are a Chinese junk, a snake charmer, and the Golden Sultan mosque. All of these things can still be seen in Singapore today — even a snake charmer, if you look hard enough.

After 10 weeks of wrangling with the United States Postal Service, I have managed to convince them that it is perfectly legal (and, in fact, covered in the Domestic Mail Manual) for them to issue me a permit that allows me to cancel my own stamps before mailing, instead of having them do it.

Why? Besides the fun of taking on a government which is ignorant of its own rules, I hate the new ink-jetted text that passes for a postmark nowadays. I’ve also noticed that I get one or two mailpieces a month from mailers that have their own permits, and one can actually tell when and from where it was mailed.

My cancellation device (an “indicia”, really just a rubber stamp ordered from a private manufacturer) arrived a couple of days ago, and I presented it at the Post Office for approval and received my permit. I am sure they were happy to see the back of me.

I am holding off on using it for now; I ordered some special postcards to commemorate the first day of use and am awaiting their arrival. If you’d like a snazzy piece of “First Day of Use” mail with my new postmark, leave a comment.

Is that bear feeling her up?

I hate to admit it, but the first thought that popped into my head upon seeing this image of a bear and a rabbit was the old joke about whether or not feces sticks to their fur, which is rated PG. But these two are clearly friends. The bear is either copping a feel, or he’s shielding her from all those flying apples. Either way, it’s clear that they’re close.

This card comes from Tun, a young Chinese girl who would like to remind you that “everyday is a sunshine day!”

Is that a ski pole in your pocket?

George Barbier (1882 – 1932) was a French illustrator, whose work is in the art deco style and was produced while art deco was very much en vogue. Barbier made a living in illustration as well as in theatre and costume design; he died at the height of his popularity. This work, L’hiver (Winter), is less stylistic than some of his other works but, if you squint, you can see a little Alphonse Mucha in there, and possibly some Maxfield Parrish in the landscape in the background.

This card was produced in and mailed from Singapore, which I had thought was in Southeast Asia but which might actually be somewhere in France. Thanks Ammy!

For Christmas, my neighbors, the Lopez family (Mom, Dad and mis nietos mexicanos), were able to go back home and visit their extended family in Guanajuato, Mexico. Within a week or so of their return, the attic of their house caught fire, at 4:00 in the morning on Saturday, January 9.  Although everyone got out of the house without injury and the structure was saved, their house will be unlivable for about three months until repairs can be made. The vast majority of their clothes and other possessions were destroyed by fire or water.

I spent most of the weekend with them, trying to salvage anything and everything from the house, but it did not amount to much.

They came by the house again last evening. In a suitcase that hadn’t quite been unpacked from their trip, they found three undamaged postcards that they had picked up for me from home. You can see the cards below.

While the house is repaired, they will need help with the expenses of temporary lodging. The kids will need new clothes, books and toys. I would be very pleased if, instead of going to Starbucks one morning, you could chip in a few bucks to help them recover. Please visit http://lopezfamilyhousefire.chipin.com and contribute just a little. If a lot of people can send just a little, it will add up to a lot of help.

Union Garden, Guanajuato, Mexico

Cristo Rey Monument, Guanajuato, Mexico

Teatro Juarez, Guanajuato, Mexico