I stopped by the annual Mule Camp Market for lunch today, and picked up an old Perry Mason dime store novel (“The Case of the Sleepwalker’s Niece” by Erle Stanley Gardner, 1942, third printing) and — bonus! — found a penny postcard that apparently served as a bookmark.

The card comes from the British War Relief Society, Inc., and acknowledges the generous donation by Mrs. Camille Sadler of “4 more sweaters R.A.F”. Mrs. Sadler seems to have been staying in New York with her friend Mrs. Honore Palmer, at the very swank River House apartment building. Built in 1931, it has been an art deco landmark ever since and, today, one can get a three-bedroom apartment there for around $5 million.

But, back to Mrs. Sadler. I suppose she might have picked up the Perry Mason to read on the return trip back to — well, somewhere; who knows how many times the book has changed hands before it came to me but, apparently none of them bothered to open the book, let alone read it. I found the “bookmark” less than halfway through the book; I guess Mrs. Sadler never found out what happened to the sleepwalker.

Be sure to check out some of the other items in the Weekend Mailbox, and stop by Postcard Friendship Friday.

I love this blast from the past: a postal card produced as one of a series by the United States Postal Service promoting tourism.  Despite the phrase “the Americas”, I’m reasonably sure that the only America being promoted here is the United States.  One thing that strikes me about this card is that, in the three vignettes that feature a happy couple, the man seems to be explaining the significance of each view to his more ignorant female companion.  Way to go, 1972!  (Also, I’m pretty sure that you shouldn’t be touching the Liberty Bell, doofus.)

This particular card is the air mail version (back when such distinctions were made); it includes air mail postage of 15 cents.  The Missive Maven added a vintage stamp to bring the card up to date for mailing.

Seems that the Maven sent a domestic issue of this postal card to her grandfather, which probably places me in very good company.  To me, she begins her message, “Hello Chris Overstreet, Wild Postcard man.”  Ooh, I kinda like that.

This is almost certainly the oldest piece in my postcard collection, despite technically not being a postcard — it is a postal card, or “postal”, produced by the government. This particular card was written and postmarked October 27, 1880 — 128 years ago today. It is addressed to Charles J. Walker & Co. of Portland, Maine, and was sent from the Bridgton Boot & Shoe Co., Bridgton, Maine:

“Gents: Please send with yesterday’s order one Mens Rubber Coat medium size same as sample Mr. Whitney carries. Woonsocket or Goodyear Price 2.50 I think.” I guess they had a change of heart after Mr. Walker’s traveling salesman left. As I recall, I picked up this card in or near Bridgton in Cumberland County, Maine, in 1997.