· Is this man Elmer Swanson? Photo Postcard from the Past · Is this man Elmer Swanson? Morgan Williams, collector and expert on exaggeration postcards, sent me another postcard challenge. As I examined the image of the front and markings on the back, I thought, Boy, there isn’t much information here! The photograph had the feeling of early 1900s but the clues were sparse: a man, sharply dressed, was holding a sword next to a step-ladder. He was staged as if preparing to climb the … [Read more...] about Is this man Elmer Swanson?
postcard collecting
The Joy of the Hunt
· The Joy of the Hunt: Wade Photographer When Morgan Williams, known far and wide for his amazing collection of exaggeration postcards, sent me a postcard image to examine, I was hooked! The advertising postcard showed a side-view of an early model car, a convertible, with a smiling driver, parked on a brick city street. Photos of thirteen babies or infants had been added to the picture to give the impression they were all peacefully engaged while sitting for a portrait. The lettering at … [Read more...] about The Joy of the Hunt
Bottle Collector
· Bottle Collector: Mike McJunkin It was a joke. After seeing a lot of fascinating bottles in Mike McJunkin’s extensive collection, I asked him, "Do you have earthquake insurance?" “No,” was his one-word reply. When he hesitated a moment, I hoped I hadn’t created an unpleasant image for him of shards of glass on the floor. But a few seconds later he offered, “I had a good friend whose wife had been cleaning windows in the home one day when she accidentally knocked over and broke a … [Read more...] about Bottle Collector
My Weekend
· Postcards, Poetry, and Food · This past weekend in Wichita, Kansas, was all about postcards, poetry, and eating. When you hear the word “postcards” you may recall a slower time than today’s world of instant communication. Were you traveling on a family vacation when you stopped at a service (gas) station and purchased a postcard while you waited for the rest of the family to get a bathroom break? Who did you send postcards to? In just a few sentences—like today’s tweets and … [Read more...] about My Weekend