The Paper Girl

Antique & Vintage Ephemera Since 2019

Camel & Rider Real Photo Postcard

I’m working on a long-form article about what postcards are used for, as well as a little bit of history on the development of postcards, so look forward to that Coming Soon. In the meantime, let’s take a look at a neat real photo postcard from my collection.

This is a colourized version of a postcard that was also released in black and white. It’s number 82 in an Egyptian Types and Scenes series, with this one titled Crossing the Desert.

References to camels in Egypt go back to around 263 BCE, when a Greek account book mentions the costs of renting out some camels to farmers. Fast-forward to 2,200 years later, and they’re used for everything from transportation to food. Evidence of camels during the Pharaonic period hasn’t been found yet, but it’s still possible that they were hanging out back then, too.

Anyway, I think this image is from around 1931. The colouring is nice and vibrant, and I didn’t have to do much restoration work here.

Thanks for joining me this week, everyone. While you’re here, don’t forget to take a look at the work I’ve been doing on my store.

3 Early 1900s Cat Postcards

This blog is definitely pro-cat. They’re neat. They’re silly. They’re frequently featured on old postcards and in vintage photos for the same reasons we put them in memes, videos, and random pictures—because people love their cats.

Hell, I know I loved mine. I still do. Even once they’re gone, you never, ever forget a beloved pet and I don’t think they ever truly leave us behind. There’s always something of them with us.

Today, I’m taking three postcards from my new vintage image bundle and showing them off. You can find A Clowder of Cats, with all 13 postcards, in my shop. Or, download it at no extra cost when you become a monthly Ko-fi supporter.

I think this one is my favourite. Three sweet kittens in a row, and of course one is yelling. They’re always yelling! One other image in this series has the same background, so it’s highly likely that there are a bunch of similar postcards out there somewhere. Knock the background out of this one and you have a nice graphic to use on its own, or further split it into the three kittens.

Silver Sultan is a beautiful domestic long-hair cat. He even looks like he knows he’s being admired. Good on him! He must be asking where his snacks are—a ruler among cats should be spoiled!

Oh, would you look at this sweet thing? This adorable kitten is performing The Mewsic of De Pussy! Ha, I get it. Debussy. I think this graphic would make a great sticker, whether round or square. Every time I sit here and look at different pictures I start to ponder how it can be broken down into its elements, and there’s a lot to work with here.

Which is your favourite?

Vintage Transport Truck Photograph

Today’s vintage image was found in a lot with several older photos, and is probably the most modern that I have in my collection. Look at the mountains in the background! They almost seem painted in. Cab-over trucks have always freaked me out a little bit, probably the idea of being on top of the engine just doesn’t appeal. They have some character, sure, but not nearly as much normal trucks.

My dad was a trucker when I was growing up. I have vague memories of being on construction sites in the early mornings, watching machines rumble by, and how loud everything was. It’s no wonder dad blasts the TV these days! He can’t hear a goddamn thing otherwise.

He never drove loads of lumber as far as I know.

Trucking used to be a very lucrative line of work! Not anymore, unfortunately.

Anyway, see you again soon with more vintage images.

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