GREETINGS FROM THE PAST

Give one to that special somebody.
Share Them with Your Friends!
Sixty Classic Picture Postal Cards for All Occasions
from the Personal Collection of
Larksfield Place Resident

Sylvia Dewey Muse

I was born on Valentine's Day, 1911. The following picture postal cards were sent to me between the years 1912 and 1924. I share them with you and hope they will give you just as much pleasure as they have given me.

I encourage you to make copies to give to your friends and loved ones.

My only restriction is that these images may NOT be used for any form of commercial, profit-making enterprise without prior legal arrangement.

Finally, if you have time, please write me care of this web site and let me know if you enjoyed my cards.

Sincerely,

Sylvia Dewey Muse

HOLIDAYS

OTHER

MY CHILDHOOD CARD COLLECTION

Sylvia Grabill Dewey Muse at about age four. The picture was taken on the porch of the family homestead in Hesston, Kansas. The doll was from my Uncle Clayton in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

Left: Uncle Clayton who owned two general stores in Pennsylvania.

Many of these cards came from my grandmother, uncles, aunts, and cousins in Pennsylvania. My mother kept my cards for me until I was old enough to care for them, then permitted me to look at them, and carefully play with them. But, they were always replaced in the same box where they were safe until I looked at them again.

Right: The box my cards were stored in.

The cards became treasures, and I spent hours sorting them into categories and just looking at them. In those days, there was no radio or television. I often entertained myself by making up stories to go with the magical pictures on the cards. (In fact, I still enjoy them today. They are all friendly faces from the past.)

Through the years, that box of cards remained in my cedar chest or in a trunk. When I started this venture of writing down some of my memories, I looked at them again, and placed them in this collection for others to enjoy. With this arrangement, I can look at them with as much enjoyment as I did many years ago. I am most grateful to my mother for giving me this privilege!

ABOUT PICTURE POSTAL CARDS

In 1898, thirteen years before I was born, Congress passed an act permiting postal cards to be printed with colored pictures on one side, and room on the other side for a personal message and the address. Before that, only letters in envelopes or plain postal cards could be sent by mail. These plain cards had the postage printed on one side, and space for a message on the other.

Colorful and imaginative picture postal cards like those in this collection became popular at once. The mailing cost was one cent within the United States and two cents to foreign countries.

When the act was passed, printers found a new business open to them. German printers, who had much more experience in art printing, immediately sent cards to the United States for sale. Several cards in this collection were made in Germany.

By the mid-1920s, picture postal cards had lost favor to the more elaborate cards that came in envelopes.

MAGICAL PENNSYLVANIA

My father was born in Pennsylvania, and all of his relatives lived there. They thought Kansas was the end of the world, and so they always took great pains to send us holiday cards and boxes of Christmas gifts. As a child, I always thought of Pennsylvania as some kind of magical place. And I still think it's great.

My Grandmother Grabill.

Copyright © 2000 Sylvia Dewey Muse. All cards shown on this page are the personal property of Sylvia Dewey Muse. "I, Witness to History" and  logo are trademarks of Wesley Retirement Communities, Inc., d/b/a Larksfield Place. All rights reserved. 
7373 East 29th Street North, Wichita, KS 67226.
Email: tasla@larksfieldplace.org. Phone: 316/636-1000. 
Any multiple reproductions, or use by other organizations require prior written approval.

This page was last revised August 04, 2003.