Wild Postcards

Postal card for Charles J. Walker & Co., Portland, Maine

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.

From the Bridgton Boot & Shoe Co., October 27, 1880

Greetings from Augusta, Maine

This is a beautiful, large-letter linen postcard in pristine condition (other than some fading due to age). Large letter postcards usually begin with “Greetings from…” and have various scenes of the location in each letter of the place name. If you’ve ever seen the album art from Bruce Springsteen’s Greetings from Asbury Park, N.J., it’s another great example. (I have that album on vinyl.)

Large-letter postcards are often highly prized by collectors, and as such are generally priced fairly high.

This card was made by the Eastern Photo Litho Company of Lowell, Massachusetts, and published by “Switzer Card Service, Watertown 72, Mass.” The use of the postal zone number places manufacture after 1943, and I’d be surprised if this card were manufactured any later than 1945.