Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: branches

Stamped on the back of the photo: "Fairhill Studios, 2918 N. Sixth St., Philadelphia, Radcliff 2317." There are three or more raccoons making their home in the wire mesh enclosure behind the "Home of the American Raccoon" sign. The fellow on top is wearing some sort of ribbon or badge, and another ribbon is dangling among the branches below him. This may be a parade float, though It's hard to tell for sure. In any case, I wonder why these two guys are touting the "Home of the American Raccoon."

"Reward of Merit presented to Oliver K. Ott, by William C. Weiss, teacher. An honorable testimony of approbation for industry, punctuality, & good conduct." Probably the same Oliver K. Ott (1860-1944) who's listed on Find A Grave.

"Travers American Hammock. Trademark. Patented July 29, 1879. New style, perfect in shape, beauty & strength; brass mounted, cardinal binding. Samples by mail, $3.00, postage, 50 cents. Hellerson." Vincent P. Travers, who was one of the officers in the company that manufactured Travers American Hammocks, held a number of hammock patents, but I haven't been able to locate one dated July 29, 1879. Perhaps the patent cited on this trade card was actually Improvement in Hammock-Supports (U.S. Patent no. 221,984), which the Patent Office approved a few months later on November 25, 1879.

A small Victorian-era greeting card that's about the size of a modern business card. This is a generic "stock card" that could have served as a calling card, advertising trade card, reward of merit, or--as in this case--greeting card, depending on what was printed on it. The colors of the leaves in the illustration, of course, suggest an autumn theme rather than a winter-time Christmas celebration.

"Thanksgiving Greetings." A nutty Thanksgiving postcard featuring a squirrel!

"White Dress Goods. French and English piques , princess lawns , linen lawns , plain and stripe nainsooks , embroidered suits, 8-4 organdie , etc., etc., at G. V. S. Quackenbush & Co.'s." G. V. S. Quackenbush & Co. used this colorful trade card to tout all the varieties of cloth-- piqués , lawns , nainsooks , organdies --that were available at its dry goods store in Troy, New York.

"Easter Greetings." Postmarked Herman, Pa., March 22, 1913, on back.

"We Are Owl [All] Wishing You a Merry Christmas." A leather postcard published circa 1905-1910 by W. S. Heal, whose "W.S.H" monogram appears in the lower left-hand corner of the card. There isn't any message, address, or other information on the back.

The Ponce de Leon Hotel in St. Augustine, Florida, was built by Henry Morrison Flagler , "a Gilded Age industrialist, railroad pioneer, and partner with John D. Rockefeller in Standard Oil" (as described on Flagler College's Legacy of Innovation page). The luxury hotel opened on January 10, 1888, and this menu dates to February 26 of that year. Today, the hotel building is part of Flagler College . Gil Wilson 's History of the City of St. Augustine Web site contains additional information regarding the Ponce de Leon Hotel and Osborn Dunlap Seavey , the hotel's manager in 1888. Not to be confused with the Ponce de Leon Hotel in Roanoke, Virginia : Hotel Ponce de Leon, St. Augustine, Florida O. D. Seavey, manager Lunch, Saturday, February 25, 1888. Consommé. Julienne with rice, Pickled oysters. Fried shad roe, á la tartare. Radishes. Bermuda potatoes. Roast leg of mutton. Smoked beef tongue with spinach. Currie of chicken, á l' Indienne. Kidneys, sautés, with mushrooms. Baked sweet potatoes. New beets. Boston baked beans. Pressed corned beef. Game pie. Ribs of beef. Ham. Tongue. Mutton. Pickled tripe. Pickled lamb tongue. Asparagus salad. Chicken salad. Sliced tomatoes. Lettuce. Stewed prunes. Apple pie. Pumpkin pie. Ginger snaps. Lady cake. Croquettes Parisiennes. Assorted cake. Pistache ice cream. Fruit. American and foreign cheese. Tea. Coffee.

A flowers or trees photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. This is a real photo postcard of two men sitting in an automobile decorated with flowers. The painted backdrop behind them depicts a tree-lined country road. The sign in the upper left-hand corner of the photo appears to be one for the "Morrow-Umatilla County Fair." This is now the Umatilla County Fair, which is still held in Hermiston, Umatilla County, Oregon. According to the fair's Web site (archived version), Morrow and Umatilla counties both sponsored the fair for its first year in 1912. Beginning in 1913, however, Umatilla County was the sole sponsor. If this is correct, then this postcard probably dates to 1912. The banner that the man on the left is holding says, "The Round-Up, Let 'er Buck, Pendleton," which refers to the Pendleton Round-Up , a rodeo that's been held in nearby Pendleton, Oregon, since 1910. Another Pendleton banner is partially visible on the wall behind the man on the right.

Exotic motifs, possibly derived from Japanese or Chinese illustrations, are visible in the design of this Victorian-era calling card.

Uncut block of six rewards of merit. See also Bird-Themed Sunday School Cards (below).

"William Bohlmann, dealer in cigars and tobacco, No. 3 Main Street, Yonkers, N.Y."