Wild Postcards

"Three Wise Goat" by Byron Harmon

Here is a terrific example of the photography of Byron Harmon, a nature photographer who worked out of Banff, Alberta in the early part of the 20th century. If we assume that the photo was taken late in the day, then the shadows indicate that these Three Wise Goats are heading towards the East, possibly in search of a Star.

Toni McLaughlin has a copy of this card as well (look for #807) and there are some interesting differences. For starters, the color is different, which could either indicate that my card has faded more over the years, or that the developing process or chemicals were not identical. Additionally, there are some marks on my card that are not present on hers. Since the marks are on the photo but not on the border, that implies to me that the photographic plate may have been marred in some way between the time each of these photo postcards was developed.

Hazelton, BC to Halifax, NS: Mr. & Mrs. P.J. Carroll, 1936-37

There are more than a few real photo postcards out there depicting Patrick J. “Paddy” Carroll, his wife Beatrice, and their sled dog team on their transcontinental trip, but this one has no postcard markings on the back — making it technically just a photo. My notes say that I paid ten cents for it in 1998.

It’s difficult to find concrete information on the Carrolls. Supposedly, it was Beatrice who raised and trained the dogs, and that their trip was financed, at least in part, through the sale of postcards like these. Also, Paddy is said to have written a small booklet of poems entitled Ditties of a Dog Musher, again using the proceeds towards the trip. It also appears that their trip was successful, and that they returned the same way the following year.

After the trip, the Carrolls are said to have settled in Granisle, British Columbia, where Paddy Carroll became a prospector and did quite well in the copper mine trade.

The next best thing to being there.

This “Plastichrome” by Colourpicture Publishers, Inc. was actually made in Canada, unlike most of the Canadian cards posted thus far.

“Cavendish, Prince Edward Island, Canada. This popular area is equipped with kitchen shelters, playground, supervised swimming and dressing cubicles, fireplaces, picnic tables, running water, electricity and toilet facilities.”

If you don’t mind, I think I’ll just say home; I already have all that stuff, plus my dressing cubicle at home is unsupervised.

Two cards for the price of one today. Both of these cards were Made in the USA, according to the text in the stampboxes. They were published in Canada by Fach Enterprises and distributed by Temple City Drugs.

Mormon Temple, Cardston, AB (#18413)

This card is described as “a view of the beautiful gardens surrounding the Mormon Temple in Cardston, Alberta.” But wait, there’s more!

Mormon Temple, Cardston, AB (#18415)

This card is described simply as “a scene of the famed Mormon Temple….” — well, you get the idea.

RCMP, now in color!

This is a “Holografix” postcard by Impact Impressions of Markham, Ontario. The card doesn’t actually look quite like the picture; the odd colors and the darkness are due to the scanner reflecting off of the lenticular surface of the Mountie pictured (similar to the hologram on your credit card). The results were even worse when I tried to take an actual photo of the card. The card is about 4″ by 6-3/8″, making it a little bigger than the typical Continental postcard size of 4″ by 6″ (and causing the end of it to stick out of the archival sleeves that I use to protect my cards.

Impact Impressions is listed in several online business directories, but they seem to have let their website go by the wayside.

I bought this card during a trip to the Maritime provinces in 2002.