Year = 1903

Notre Dame des Prairies, the church at the Trappist monastery in St. Norbert, Manitoba (now a neighbourhood in the extreme south end of Winnipeg). This is on an undivided back with a "Private Mailing Card" design and was postmarked in November 1903 at St. Norbert to Monsieur A. Maguin, Aures, Haute-Loire, France. It is signed "Joseph" on the front, as seen above.

Has both a Montreal Import Co. label and a "Published by J. P. Garneau, Quebec" label. Mailed at Quebec City, July 28, 1903 to Miss Florrie Knight, "Chierden", Gordon Road, Cowes, Isle of Wight, England. Undivided back "Private Post Card".

This is a very early MacFarlane card without the MacFarlane identification. It has the Halifax coat of arms on the front. The card was mailed on January 5, 1903 at Halifax to Miss H. (?) Field, Strathfield, Leamington, Warwickshire, England. No message. Has the typical "Private Mailing Card" back.

Russell, Lang & Co. card no. 5963 with "Season's Greetings" message, showing two scenes in and around Portage la Prairie, Man. The card was posted on Christmas Day, 1903 at Portage to Mr. and Mrs. P. D. Fraser, 82 Shakespeare Road, Draton Park, Hanwell W., England. It is signed "E. R. Robinson" as seen above. This is one of the Russell, Lang cards that is really, to all appearances at least, an issue or reissue of a Detroit Photographic Co. card.

This one is addressed to Mrs. John Stookberry, 60 Atlantic Terrace, Lynn, Massachusetts, U.S.A. and was posted at Halifax on July 3, 1903. I have a copy of this MacFarlane card already, but I liked the message on this one: "The Queen Hotel is old and dingy, but has an excellent table. The town is a disappointment. The harbour is wonderfully good but the town is far from picturesque, save for the Citadel and some few fine old buildings. H. W. P."

This unassuming looking card is actually a great find -- my first Canadian-produced pre-1904 real photo postcard (postmarked August 5, 1903 at Newboro, Ont.). It appears to be of a steamer on the Rideau Canal waterway. www.rideau-info.com/canal/maps.html It appears that the writer has travelled (likely on the steamer depicted) from Merrickville through Smiths Falls (the "Falls" mentioned in the letter) to Newboro. The young man (Ben Moag) mentioned in the letter lived in Smiths Falls at the time of the 1901 Census of Canada, so that checks out nicely. The letter reads: "Newboro, Aug. 4/03 -- Dear Florence: Well Florence how are you and your patient? We are having a swell time. When going through Falls I called on Ben Moag HaHa. Do you know him? I met his cousin Miss Moag on boat. Bye Bye. Harold W." The letter is addressed to Miss Florence MacDonald, Merrickville, Ont. (see separate image of back) It may be a card that was sold or given to passengers on the ship.

The reverse of the Newboro card, with clear Aug. 5 03 NEWBORO ONT. split-ring cancel and the address. This back design was postally non-compliant (should say "Private Post Card", I believe) and predates the Velox backs. There does not appear to be a stamp box.

Address side of the Eastern Townships Bank card. Still with the pre-printed QV stamp, so presumably 3 years old or more at the time of use. Posted to Sampson P. Robins Esq. Jr., #513 Notre Dame St. E., Hochelaga.

Private Post Card of the Eastern Townships Bank, Sherbrooke, Quebec, with list of branches. Perhaps the branches in western Canada were intended to attract Townshippers who had migrated west for work. The card is postmarked Oct. 29, 1903 at Sherbrooke (see separate image of the other side). Interesting "HOCHELAGA QUE." receiver.