Day 25 - Tuesday Treasures Special Edition: Postcards - November 25, 2025

 I can't believe I forgot to take a picture of the huge postcard haul from St. Vincent de Paul!  It might have been because I'd separated them by theme (Christmas, other greeting cards, reproductions, etc.) and worked on them group by group.  First I photograph each and every postcard I get.  I edit them on my phone, I find it's easier than on the computer.  Then once they are on the computer I rename them, then put them in my Pictures in the files under Postcards.  It took days, and somewhere along there I forgot I wanted a haul shot.  

It would have shown a lot.  I got more than 100.  I'll pepper this post with some photos of the best.  I shouldn't say "best," because if these are the "best" why did I buy the others?  

1912

One of the St. Vincent de Paul volunteers approached me and asked if I was the one who bought postcards, that they had lots of Christmas ones being priced.  She told me I could come in the back and to see the ones done so far!  I left my cart of binders (to organize postcards) and texted my son, who was in the store, where I'd be.  

At least I got a picture of some of the binders.  You ever have one of those moments when you realize you've been doing it all wrong, and there's a much easier way to do it?  That's what happened here.  I was putting postcards in scrapbook albums.  If you know scrapbook albums, you know to add pages you need to unscrew it.  Why, when I can use three-ring binders?  My "duh..." moment.   They're 25¢ at St. Vincent de Paul.

German - note on back states it was bought between 1920 and 1922

I sat and looked at hundreds of incredible antique postcards, mostly Christmas, but not all.  The volunteer was going about sorting her own things.  I remember her name, it's my middle name.  She remembers mine, it's her daughter's name.  We got to talking and it turns out she grew up in the same California city I grew up in!  Not only that, we went to the same high school!  She graduated the year before I was a freshman, so we didn't overlap, but still... quite a coincidence.   

with a little booklet attached to write a longer note

Oh, one thing I want to mention is the number of postcards St. Vincent de Paul has.  I was misinformed when a volunteer said they'd had a donation of more than 20,000.  She was way off.  The donation was of more than 220,000!  Yes, more than two hundred thousand postcards!  These were from the estate of a local man who'd collected since he was a young teen.  I talked to the family at a yard sale earlier this year and they were going to look for a buyer.  Obviously it would take a special person to be able to buy them all!  I'm glad they donated to St. Vincent de Paul.  I'm not sure what other locations are like, but the services here are provided just on the other side of the parking lot.  Food, showers, etc.  and the thrift store provided vouchers for clothing.  So, the donated items sold benefit people right there.  

Here are some interesting ones.

This is an Elsbeth Forck's Schattenbilder - the literal translation is Service of Retribution or Retaliation Service, or a ritual or ceremony.  It's also called "Bird Burial."

I got other To My... cards.  Teacher, Uncle, Mother...

This 1912 (many are postmarked) has a real photo in the middle. 

This birthday postcard has wheels to turn for day of the week, date, and month.  I was meant to be sent in an envelope after setting the wheels. 

A German RPPC (Real Photo Post Card) nativity scene.

Horseshoes and rabbits are a common element in these old cards.  The one on the left is German.

My son came in and took a look at some postcards.  This is one he got.  We don't quite understand what the text is about.  Sometimes the humor of 100 years ago goes over our heads!  Eventually my son just went home and I texted him when I was done so he could come get me!  He wasn't interested in the holiday themed cards.

This is a hand-made postcard, a rather abstract holly print.

I did get some reproductions.  They were published in Hong Kong in the 1980s.  They are quite beautiful.

This one I was overly excited to find!  It's not Santa Claus, it's Belsnickel!  He peers in the window before Christmas, tosses candy on the floor, and if any children scramble to grab it up, switches them for their greed!  It's a German thing... and Pennsylvania Dutch.

https://www.thebelsnickelsaga.com/post/the-forgotten-origins-of-belsnickel-the-darker-spirit-of-christmas

I also got the glow-in-the-dark and hold-to-light replicas.  

The tree has pin holes that show light when you hold it up.

Areas of this type will glow after being held in bright light for a few minutes.

Hold this kind up to a very bright light and the white areas show a color image.  Some of these came in both glow-in-the-dark and hold-to-light versions. I bought both!

Two more.  Special because I like them.

This because of the Border Collie.

And the kitten because it's cute!

Next month's Thursday Postcard Hunt theme is Christmas, so I'll be sharing some of the other ones from this haul throughout December.  

Day 25 NaBloPoMo