Lawyers Canyon Idaho High Bridge Train Christmas Postcard 1913

Description:

Attractive early divided-back Christmas postcard featuring a color-tinted photograph of the spectacular High Bridge over Lawyers Canyon, Idaho, accompanied by a charming winter illustration of a young girl on skis carrying an American flag, another skier descending a snowy slope, and decorative holly leaves and berries. The holiday greeting reads "Hail Happy Christmas Tide!", with "Greetings from Idaho" printed beneath the photographic view.

The framed photograph shows a railroad train crossing the towering steel trestle, captioned "High Bridge, Lawyers Canyon, Idaho, 296 Ft." The bridge was constructed in 1908 for the Camas Prairie Railroad's Lewiston-to-Grangeville branch, a joint operation associated with the Northern Pacific and Union Pacific railroads. Rising approximately 296 feet above the canyon and extending roughly 1,500 feet, the remarkable steel structure was among the most impressive engineering accomplishments on the Camas Prairie line, famous for its numerous bridges, trestles, and tunnels.

The festive composition combines early Idaho railroad history with an appealing Edwardian-era winter sports illustration, including period skiing attire and a small U.S. flag.

Postmarked Post Falls, Idaho, December 22, 1913, with a machine cancellation tying a green 1-cent Washington stamp. Addressed to Mr. and Mrs. C. C. Hardin, Fairfield, Nebraska, with a handwritten Christmas greeting signed by Melvin.

Published by Wesley Andrews, Baker, Oregon, an important early Northwest postcard publisher whose business began in 1904. The illustrated face also carries the copyright imprint of A. Wittemann, Brooklyn, New York, and the view is numbered No. 5.

A particularly appealing combination of Idaho railroad history, early steel bridge engineering, Christmas greetings, patriotic imagery, and vintage skiing, with the added interest of a dated 1913 postal usage.

Condition:

VG

Keywords:

Lawyers Canyon Idaho, Lawyer's Canyon Viaduct, Camas Prairie Railroad, High Bridge, Railroad Trestle, 296 Foot Bridge, Lewiston Grangeville Railroad, Vintage Train Postcard, 1913 Christmas Postcard, Post Falls Idaho Cancel, Wesley Andrews Baker Oregon, A. Wittemann, Edwardian Christmas, Vintage Skiing, Patriotic Christmas, American Flag, Holly, Divided Back Postcard, Idaho Railroad History

I am selling my own personal collection of unique postcards, postal history, and ephemera.

Smoke-free and dry-humidity household.

Everything is guaranteed as described. I need to downsize my collections as I am moving overseas for personal reasons.

I will combine shipping costs with other lots.

Many more postcards and items are coming.