Postcards in the (home) archive 1949–52

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. I4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: Hi There, I’m having a wonderful time up here.  It is really nice up here. I have seen quite a few places and still have quite a few more to see. I’m going to see Arlington National Cemetery and the Pentagon today. I will get back to Knoxville Friday night. Jerry. 

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 18 JUN 19 1949 

Destination: Knoxville, Tenn. 

Color type: Color 

Dealer price: $3 

Commentary: Jerry wrote this Folger postcard in Washington, DC on Juneteenth, 1949: 83 years after it was first celebrated in 1866 in Galveston, Texas, and 72 years before it would be declared a federal holiday. He shares with Doris his sightseeing plan for the day, his touristic pleasure, and his return date. 

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 109 I4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: Feb. 7-50 Wash. D.C. Dear Ray, Vi & Jimmy, I have been here since Jan. 31. Expect to stay about 2 wks. We have been staying at Jeannettes. H. called me up to come to Wash. Would have been home by now. They just sold 19 acres. That tract where you had plowed 1 year. They will build 264 houses. Sold for $150,000. How have you all been. Love, Dad.  

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: ARLINGTON, VA FEB 7 1950 

Destination: Yuma, Arizona 

Color type: Color 

Commentary: Dad is reporting the sale for $150,000 of 19 acres of land on which 264 houses are to be built. Someone Dad is writing to plowed the tract of land for a year. We are left trying to imagine why Dad decided to share his news concerning commercial real estate on a postcard of the Folger Shakespeare Library. 

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 109 I4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: Dear Ann – Sorry we didn’t get to see you when we were in Cinti. My mother is flying to Calif. with Edward on the 15th. He has business out there & it worked out fine for all. Hope you had a nice vacation, Marcelle 

Postage stamp: 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 6 AUG 6 1950 

Destination: Cincinnati 13, Ohio 

Color type: Color 

Dealer code: 398 

Commentary: A message from Marcelle to Ann starting with a regret, passing on to travel news, and ending with a hope. I did not know the abbreviation of Cincinnati was Cinti. 

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 109 K4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: Apr. 21, 1952 A week ago today we saw Stanley & Mary in this beautiful Museum. We spent the week end with Jeannette in her beautiful house. Shall be home before long. Love, Dora 

Postage stamp: 2 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: FALLS CHURCH, VA. APR 22 1952 

Destination: Malden, Mass. 

Color type: Color 

Commentary: A superlative visit: beautiful museum and beautiful house. Nice that Dora met up with another couple to visit the Folger together. On Jan. 1, 1952, the rate for sending a postcard in the U.S. went from 1c to 2c. It’s possible that the 2c red Adams stamp was not yet available in the Falls Church post office, but that the sender had a stash of coils of the 1c Washington stamp. These are horizontal coils. 

Note that the serial number of this postcard compared to the previous card has been modified from I4436 to K4436. I bet some of you caught the change. 

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 109 K4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: Having a swell time. See you Thursday. Connie 

Postage stamp: 2c red Adams, Scott #806 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 7 MAY 27 1952 

Destination: Elwood, New Jersey 

Color type: Color 

Dealer code: 10476 

Commentary: “Swell” was a common superlative in the 1950s, heard rarely in the 21st century. A woman of few words, Connie conveys the essential: trip going well and a date set up to see Mrs. Berlin in the near future. Note that the 2c stamp has become more readily available by May. 

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 109 K4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: When you get this I will be in New Jersey. Did you know X has had a stroak [sic], lost his speech. Love 

Postage stamp: 2 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 16 JUN 20 1952 

Slogan cancel: BUILD YOUR FUTURE WISELY SAFELY U.S. SAVINGS BONDS 

Destination: Hampton Va 

Color type: Color 

Dealer price: $2 

Commentary: These are vertical 1c coils. Due to the slogan cancel used, the postmark impinges on the “SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES.” The postal clerk could have placed the cancel more to the right. 

Printed on picture side: FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY. WASHINGTON, D.C. 

Printed on address side: PUB. BY ATLANTIC NEWS COMPANY. WASHINGTON, D. C. The Library was a gift of the late Henry C. Folger and the collection includes more than 70,000 volumes as well as pictures and relics of the poet’s work and life. POST CARD 

Written message: Dear Sarah, I am having a good time in Washington. We got here last night at 8:00. We will go to the Melon Art Mus after supper tonight. Duane P.S. Be sure and not forget to take the Roll. 

Postage stamp: Removed 

Postmark: HYATTSVILLE, MD AUG 21 1952 

Destination: Huntington, W. Va. 

Color type: Color 

Commentary: Duane is a youngster with a sense of responsibility, as he reminds Sarah to take the roll. His voyage to Washington, DC will include a visit to a fine arts gallery. 

All seven postcards from 1950 to 1952 show the Folger Shakespeare Library from the northwest corner; six are the same photograph, one is a slightly different angle. No variety here. 

Printed on picture side: Folger Shakespeare Library, Washington, D.C. 109 K4436 

Printed on address side: THE WASHINGTON NEWS COMPANY “COLOUR PICTURE” PUBLICATION BOSTON 15, MASS. U.S.A THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD 

Written message: Dear Miss Walton, I saw you on Tuesday at about 8:20 walking toward W.H.S. I was on the bus going home so couldn’t stop. I had to get to the bank at Pitman to arrange things at my box before I fly to Shannon on Nov. 12. From there I go to lecture at Liverpool Leeds & Manchester Universities. I’ll be in England until after Xmas unless it’s too cold. I was glad to see you looking so well. Edwin E. Willoughby  

Postage stamp: 2 1c green Washington, Scott #804 Presidential Issue 1938 

Postmark: WASHINGTON, D.C. 7 OCT 16 1952 

Slogan cancel: HIRE THE HANDICAPPED IT’S GOOD BUSINESS 

Destination: Woodbury, New Jersey 

Color type: Color 

Dealer price: $1 

Dealer code: K 

Commentary: This postcard message and the personality of the sender are so remarkable to have merited a dedicated recent blog post: https://collation.folger.edu/2022/02/edwin-eliott-willoughby/. 

25 receiving states 1934–52:
12 NY
7 OH
6 NJ
6 PA
6 VA
6 WV
5 WI
4 CT
4 MA
4 MD
3 IN
3 ME
2 IL
2 TN
1 AZ
1 CA
1 DE
1 FL
1 GA
1 KS
1 MI
1 MN
1 NC
1 NH
1 SC

Receiving country:
1 France

N = 82