Handshakes

A real photo postcard from the Penn Park Studio, York, Pa.

A handshakes photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. I'm not sure what to make of the young men in this real photo postcard from the Penn Park Studio in York, Pennsylvania. Both are shaking hands with their right hands as they hold cigarettes in their left hands. The fellow on the left is wearing what appears to be a somewhat scruffy military uniform dating to World War I, but the one on the right is outfitted in what may be a cowboy get-up, with a hat, neckerchief, revolver, holster, gun belt, and boots. Compare this photo with another one from the same studio that shows two soldiers shaking hands (below).

A vintage real photo postcard advertising a now old-fashioned type of washing machine. "Good Morning, Sir: Do you want to know how to make money? It is easy, if you know how. I made and sold washers for 25 years. Many dealers have made big money with my washer. You failed to do much with it. May I help you? All my experience is at your service and will make money for you. Do you want it? Yours for success, J. H. Knoll, Reading, Pa."

"Acquaintance compliments with confidence & respect. Can I have the pleasure of your company this evening? If so, keep this card; if not, please return it. O. G. Pfleogor." This is the only card I've come across that has a name printed on one side (like a calling card ) and a "let's get acquainted" message (like an acquaintance card ) on the other side.

"Friendship's tie. Love sincere."

"Margreta Larsson, Våmhus." A calling card that I purchased along with some Swedish-language religious cards. Margreta Larsson was presumably from Våmhus , Dalarna County, Sweden (Sverige).

"Long may peace attend thee!" A Victorian-era hidden-name calling card with shaking hands, a sailing ship, and the Statue of Liberty, all surrounded by a border of roses and forget-me-nots. The colorful illustration consists of a separate die-cut that lifts up on the right-hand side to reveal the name of "Edward M. Mercer" printed underneath.

Columbia and Uncle Sam shake hands to celebrate the Fourth of July .

For a similar postcard, see And May You Get the Glad Hand Everywhere .

For a similar postcard, see I Hope You Get the Glad Hand Always .

Cover of a short booklet: We Met the Space People: The Story of the Mitchell Sisters , by Helen and Betty Mitchell. Clarksburg, W.Va.: Saucerian Publications. Mouse over the image above to see a close-up of part of the illustration . Two sisters encounter space aliens in a coffee shop in the 1950s! Read all about it at the Internet Archive: We Met The Space People (1959) .

For more information, see the full cover of this booklet: