A Purr-Sonal Greeting, 1912

I love this card, not just for the crazy grin on the cat, but for the newsy post on reverse, touching on the cold weather, farm life and even fashion. Note the sender added his own message to the cat's paper: Ye Ow What A Climate.

Here's the news Will sent to his sister, Mrs. Annie Maillat of Parkers Glen, Pike Co., Pa. on Jan. 25, 1912:

Dear Sis, I haven't heard any whippoorwills lately around here but Em saw a robin in one of our trees the other day. I had a letter from Frank yesterday it has been very cold out there too and lots of snow. We have been very lucky to escape that part of it. Lots of sickness around here, mostly pneumonia. Our hens are doing well considering the climate. We get from 10 to 14 from 35 hens. Hope this finds you all well. Will

Then Will adds a line going up the left side: Straw hats are not in style now. Sweet.

Two frisky young pussies! 1907

Egad! OK, this is 1907, I'm sure "Rob" meant no harm by this very weird card. Forget the greeting on the front, which likely makes any smart aleck from the mid-20th century on snicker. What's with the strange looking dame with the fearsome schnozz? And that odd pile of  hair. Looks like a Mad Magazine illustration. Hope Miss Edith Heator and Mrs. N. Steen took no offense.

Here's what Rob had to say:

Will be over Sunday at 2:30 p.m. so be on the look out. Is it lonesome with out me can not get home unless I come after my affinity. It take[s] your affinity to bring you home. Love Rob.

Sounds like Rob was shy about courting, and wanted some reassurance.

Kitty with pink bow, 1910

Mr. Francis Ditzler of 218 Guilford St. received this on April 27, 1910, signed simply, "Guess From Who." Only "City" appeared where a city and state should have been written, and it found its way through the mail. The postmark clearly says Lebanon, so could be Pennsylvania.  

Beatnik valentine, c. 1959

An American Greeting card, which Molly McClure was very clever (and brave) to send to her beau.

Happy Valentine's Day

A tag I made yesterday for my husband. I kept it simple, so I had no excuse not to do it! The tag was a long ago gift in a zine swap, beautifully painted in shades of pink and gold, so all I had to do was glue on elements from my scrap heap.

Thanks to Nan at Retired in Alaska for the inspiration. Check out her blog to see some absolutely gorgeous tags, and some fabulous pictures of her life way up north.

A googly-eyed valentine, 1911

Googly-eyed dolls were quite popular during the era when this card was produced, so it's no surprise they'd show up on valentines, too.  Copyrighted 1911 Schlesinger Bros., N.Y.

Dear Friend
We arrived at Tiffin all O.K. We certainly had a fine time. My address is 19 Coe St.
Cletus Diringer

"Cut me out" valentine, c. 1930s

I love the Fern Bisel Peat line and colors, but not sure this is Peat. The initials under the candy box look like NFC. Hmmm....This is another copy of a vintage card, part of a freebie at a paper doll luncheon.

UPDATE: I just realized I had a copy of a valentine (just the image, captured from the internet some time ago) by the same artist: