Virtual tourism, pre-Internet

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.

I removed the message; it's none of your beeswax

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.

Springtime in Washington, D.C.

“Shown are, The Washington Monument, The White House, The Jefferson Memorial.”  The description on this postcard, published by Capsco, Inc. of Washington DC, might be no-frills, but it really is a nice montage.  Probably published between 1963-1970. 

Jefferson Memorial

“The blossoming of the Japanese Cherry Trees gives the Thomas Jefferson Memorial its most beautiful setting. This work of John Russell Pope was dedicated April 13, 1943 on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Jefferson. South side of the Tidal Basin.  This card was published by Silberne Souvenir Sales, Inc., also of Washington DC and probably around the same time.

Lastly, a card sent to Great-Grandma Lottie:

Cherry Blossom Time: Thomas Jefferson Memorial

“The Thomas Jefferson Memorial is located on the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. It is construted of Danby Vermont marble for the exterior and Georgia white marble for its interior. This Historic Shrine with its setting of Cherry Blossoms is one of the most beautiful sights in Springtime, and is visited by thousands each year.”

“Glenn” sent this card from Washington DC on 26 September 1965, using a 3-cent postage stamp from 1948.  Remember how there used to be decades between postal rate increases, and now they occur almost annually?  Glenn writes: “Hi everyone. Went in to Pa. for brother’s funeral. All O.K. Got your card and letter. Will write later on. Kind of (illegible) up yet. Hard on the nerves. Write too.”

A note from Glenn

This is another Capsco card, but the postal code in the notation “Washington 4, D.C.” places the manufacture prior to 1963.  The “Youth Month 1948″ stamp is cancelled with the notation “Ability Counts”, a sentiment that Jefferson probably would have agreed with, but it seems to me that it’s an American value that has fallen by the wayside.

Broadcasting the Navy's Greatest Hits!

The description on the back of this card is so long that there’s only about an inch of space in which to compose your message. “The United States Naval Radio Station at Radio, Virginia. Situated at the southwestern end of Fort Myer Military Reservation opposite Washington, D.C. Build by the United States Navy Department (Bureau of Steam Engineering). Land ceded to the Navy Department by the War Department. Rated power of station 100 kilowatts. Towers, one 600 feet high 150 feet square at the base, two 450 feet high 120 feet square at the base, located at angles of an isosceles triangle, large tower at the apex base of triangle 350 feet between centers of towers, perpendicular to base 350 feet. Normal range: day 2,000 miles, night 3,000 miles. Cost about $250,000.”

For extra credit, draw the triangle described.

Construction on the station began in 1910, and the postcard is almost as old. I’m sure that the average third grader of 1910 could draw a diagram of the station from the description; I’d be hesitant to put it in the hands of a high school graduate of today.

The intent of the radio station was to allow communications between Washington and the fleet commanders at sea and, to my knowledge, this is one of the first instances where the word “radio” was used to describe this type of wireless communications.

Being an old military communications man myself, I have a copy the U.S. Army Signal Corps Radio Communication Pamphlet No. 40, The Principles Underlying Radio Communication (Second Edition, revised May 24, 1921; the First Edition was published December 10, 1918). This particular pamphlet has 619 pages, including a 41-page index. In the index, under “Wireless”, it says “See Radio.”

This postcard is a WNC “Colorchrome” published by the Washington News Company, Washington, DC.