ITEM SPECIFICS
DESCRIPTION
A six-piece lot of American paper collectibles spanning roughly 1907 to the 1930s — real photo postcards, printed trade cards, and one original photograph. All housed in protective sleeves. Sold as one lot.
1. Gospel tract card, copyright 1907 Ed. H. Packard — "What is Your Destination? Are You a Christian?" Halftone photograph of a steam locomotive emerging from a stone arch bridge, with a bold question-mark design. Reverse carries "Notes from my Bible" by D.L. Moody, published by the Gospel Publicity League, Tremont Temple, Boston, part of a series of 60 illustrated designs. Numbered 7004 / 7004A. Fully printed both sides with no address space — this is a hand-out tract card rather than a mailable postcard. Railroad topical crossover. Condition: chip and paper loss taking the "A" in CHRISTIAN, corner rounding upper right, soiling and staining to the reverse.
2. Exhibit Supply Co. arcade fortune card, copyright 1927, Chicago — "Your Future Husband / Your Future Child," printed in blue on cream stock, with fortune text promising a prince, a castle in a foreign land, and one little prince. The 1927 issue, earlier and less commonly seen than the widely circulated 1935 comedic series. Condition: toning, edge wear, light handling creases, blind-stamped impression to the right of the child panel.
3. Real photo postcard, child and Spitz dog in a pedal car — outdoor setting under a flowering tree, boy at the wheel with a white long-coated dog beside him. Double topical: early pedal cars and dogs. Condition: soft, low-contrast printing with overall fading; edges sound.
4. Real photo postcard, photographer's Christmas greeting — studio portrait of a smiling toddler on a Windsor chair holding a small toy, captioned in hand-lettered script "Best wishes for Christmas and the New Year." Clean and sharp. Condition: light toning, corners square.
5. Real photo postcard, woman in military-style theatrical costume — seated on a pedestal in a frogged tunic with epaulettes and aiguillette, plumed shako, and tall boots. Vaudeville or drum-major costume, unidentified performer. Condition: chipping and loss at the upper right corner, edge wear, otherwise strong contrast.
6. Original photograph, Pembroke Lodge roadside inn — glossy single-weight period photograph, not a postcard. Shingle-style building with a full sign stack reading ROOMS, BATH, ALWAYS OPEN, DINING ROOM, ICE CREAM PARLOR, plus secondary signs advertising a lobster luncheon. A woman stands at the left edge of the frame. Location not confirmed — the lobster reference points to coastal New England, most likely Pembroke, Maine or Pembroke, Massachusetts, but we have not verified which. Condition: light toning, corners sound.
A working mix rather than a matched set. The strengths are the railroad topical on the gospel card, the early 1927 date on the arcade card, and the identified roadside business on the photograph. Every piece is described honestly above, defects included. Sold as pictured, as a lot, no returns for condition already disclosed.
Curiosity Coins — Medway, Massachusetts | Est. 1999 | ANA • PCGS • NGC • Heritage Auctions Member / Buying & selling US and world coins, silver, gold, currency, and collectibles since 1999. Many auctions start at $5 — combined shipping always available. Questions welcome.