1908 - When My Tan Wears Out

1900s, Architecture, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois

Postcard #1104: BANK., Basco, IL — A.C. D to Pearl, June 1908

September 13, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1104: Sepia-toned photograph of a one-story brick bank building in Basco, Illinois. The building features a recessed arched en

Transcription

Back — Think this is prettier than the church ] Dear Pearl.- Am having a fine time in Basco. Saw J. S. this morning, and he asked me how Carthage was getting along. I paid [illegible] all [illegible] to Alma Tucker.

Postcard Information

Postmark: BASCO, ILL., JUN 12 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

About This Card

The First National Bank in Basco, Illinois occupied a one-story brick building that was, by the standards of this small Hancock County village, a substantial civic investment. Basco sits a few miles from Carthage, too small to have a high school or a park but large enough to need a bank for the farm families of the surrounding township. A.C.D. sent this real photo postcard from Basco. The bank’s solid brick construction — modest but permanent — expressed the confidence of rural banking in a period when small-town banks were the primary financial institutions for agricultural communities.

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Novelty & Humor, People & Portraits, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois

Postcard #0115: Hamilton, IL — or Lester to Pearl, June 1908

August 25, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0115: Color illustration depicting a humorous scene where a young woman in a white dress has fallen out of a multi-colored pla

Transcription

Back — Hello Kiddo. How are you am feeling fine Picter [?] are [?] ready. or Lester.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Hamilton, IL, JUN 18 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: T.E.L. "Theochrom"
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, Golden Age, Romance & Courtship, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: La Harpe, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #1098: The Corner Grocery, La Harpe, IL — September 1908

August 23, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #1098: Sepia-toned real photo postcard of a wide dirt street in a small town. A single electric light bulb is suspended by wire

Transcription

Back — Here is my application for the telephone work. 8061 ???

Postcard Information

Postmark: LA HARPE, ILL., SEP 27 1908
Sent To: La Harpe IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: Local mail
Notes: Local mail; Reference to "telephone work"; The number "8061 ???" appears to be a later addition in pencil.

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, People & Portraits, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #0112: Spooning in Hamilton!, Hamilton, IL — L. B to Pearl, October 1908

August 20, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0112: A color illustration of an elegant couple embracing in a formal parlor. The woman is wearing a light blue/white evening

Transcription

Back — Oct 29-08 Hello Pearl thought I would surprise you. L. B.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Hamilton, ILL., OCT 29 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: United Art Publishing Co., New York City, New York
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Novelty & Humor, People & Portraits, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #0111: Hamilton, IL — Peter Matrimedy [?] of T. B to Pearl, July 1908

August 19, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0111: Cream-colored novelty postcard featuring four small cloth bows affixed in the corners (light green/blue, pink, orange/re

Transcription

Back — Hello Pearl – how are you. im fine and dandy only a little hot. Peter Matrimedy [?] of T. B.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Hamilton, ILL., JUL 27 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 2¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, Sent From: Kansas, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Kansas

Postcard #0107: Lebanon, KS — F. H. T to Pearl, December 1908

August 13, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0107: Embossed orange-red rose with a velvet textured flocking on a metallic gold-olive green background, showing green leaves

Transcription

Back — I am going to write some of these days if I have to double up. Well I suppose old santa came to see you He did [?] me. I suppose you are still hello girl, I am clerking in a Millinery store yet. F. H. T.

Postcard Information

Postmark: LEBANON, KANS., DEC 21 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~420 miles

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, People & Portraits, Sent From: Kansas, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Kansas, Transportation

Postcard #0103: Lebanon, KS — F. H. Z. [?] to Pearl, 1908

August 7, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0103: Hand-colored illustration of a young man in a dark military/naval uniform and white trousers leaning toward a woman in a

Transcription

Back — I expect you think I am sending these Cards far enough apart We play Smith Center a foot ball game tomorrow we beat Redcloud 8 to 4 last [?] Friday Write soon F. H. Z. [?]

Postcard Information

Postmark: Lebanon, Kans., 16 1908 [Month illegible]
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Chas. K. Harris, New York, New York
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~380 miles

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, People & Portraits, Sent From: Missouri, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Missouri, Transportation

Postcard #0102: romantic scene on a beach dune, Canton, MO — H. L. B to Pearl, October 1908

August 6, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0102: Hand-colored postcard depicting a romantic scene on a beach dune. A woman in a light blue dress with a wide-brimmed flor

Transcription

Back — Well it’s raining to beat the band and I have. got a half mile to go to school will write a letter some of the days H. L. B.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Canton, MO., OCT 20 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Chas. K. Harris, New York, New York
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~25 miles

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, People & Portraits, Sent From: Missouri, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Missouri, Transportation

Postcard #0101: scene on the deck of a ship or fortification, Canton, MO — H H T to Pearl, October 1908

August 5, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0101: Color illustration depicting a scene on the deck of a ship or fortification. A woman in a large hat and long, striped wh

Transcription

Back — Write [main message:] I suppose you thought I would never send the rest of these cards. we beat Red Cloud 8 to 4 [?] in the foot ball Friday. H H T

Postcard Information

Postmark: Canton, MO, OCT 13 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Chas. K. Harris, New York, New York
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, People & Portraits, Sent From: Illinois, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Illinois, Transportation

Postcard #0100: La Harpe, IL — H.H.T to Pearl, 1908

August 4, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0100: Hand-colored postcard depicting a man sitting at a large wooden table in what appears to be a ship's cabin with porthole

Transcription

Back — I am still going to school am going to play foot-ball to morrow will write if I ever get time H.H.T,

Postcard Information

Postmark: La Harpe, ILL., [month illegible] 8 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: Chas. K. Harris, New York, New York
Print Origin: Printed in Germany
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~15 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Greeting Card, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0093: Wever, IA — and violet to Pearl, June 1908

July 24, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0093: Illustration by Katharine Gassaway depicting a young boy in a blue sailor suit kneeling in front of a young girl in a wh

Transcription

Back — "Hello" Pearl, Rec’d your postal, all O.K. & am "answering" "soon or sooner" as you can see. Mamie & Alda came up yesterday afternoon. Alda & I went to Harve & Mamie stayed with Verge. We stopped a-while & visited with Anne You sure can bet I cer-tainly had a fine time the 4th. I went to Burlington the next evening & to [illegible] [illegible] write soon. with love and violet. for me.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, JUN 17 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: JULIUS BIEN & COMPANY, New York, N.Y.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~35 miles

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, City & Street Scenes, General Correspondence, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation, Undivided Back (Pre-1907)

Postcard #0091: THE METROPOLITAN, Wever, IA — R. H. / H. R. S to Pearl, June 1908

July 22, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0091: Color postcard depicting a street scene of Second Street looking west in Fort Madison, Iowa. On the right side of the st

Transcription

Front — ] H. R. S.

Back — ] R. H.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Wever, Iowa, JUN 27 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Undivided Back (Pre-1907)
Publisher: Axt Drug Co., Fort Madison, Iowa
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

About This Card

Second Street in Fort Madison, looking west past the brick storefronts, shows the commercial center of a city that was in the middle of its industrial prime. The postcard was sent from Wever, Iowa — a small community about twenty miles upriver — and signed “H.R.S.” on the front and “R.H.” on the back. The initials H.R.S. suggest Harvey R. Sights, and if so, this card — sent in June 1908, about two years before Harvey and Pearl’s wedding — is one of several in the collection that track Harvey’s movements around the Lee County area while working on the railroad.

1900s, Buildings & Architecture, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa

Postcard #0090: Julia, Burlington, IA — Julia to Pearl, May 1908

July 21, 2026 No Comments

Front of postcard #0090: Color illustration depicting a river scene at Black Hawk Heights in Fort Madison, Iowa. A brick building with a tall smo

Transcription

Back — Hello Pearle I will write you a few lines to let you know that I been sick had such a cold and sore throat couldnt speak above a whisper. good by will write more some other time. ] Julia.

Postcard Information

Postmark: Burlington, IA., MAY 18 1908
Sent To: Carthage IL
Era: Golden Age (1907–1915)
Publisher: AXT DRUG CO.
Stamp: 1¢
Distance Traveled: ~30 miles

About This Card

Black Hawk Heights, on the Fort Madison riverfront, takes its name from the Sauk leader Black Hawk, who led his band across this stretch of the Mississippi in the spring of 1832 in what became known as the Black Hawk War — the conflict that effectively ended Native American resistance in the upper Mississippi valley. The brick building with the tall smokestack visible in the background suggests the industrial character of Fort Madison’s waterfront by 1908. Julia, writing from Burlington, had just recovered from illness and was catching Pearl up on her news.

1900s, General Correspondence, Golden Age, Nature & Landscapes, Parks & Nature, People & Portraits, Sent From: Iowa, Sent To: Carthage, IL, Sights Collection, Subject: Iowa, Transportation