Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: fingers

Private William Lengle, a soldier stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, during World War II, filled in the blanks on the front of this Dick Tracy postcard, added a message on the back (see below), and sent it to a friend in Shoemakersville, Pennsylvania. Lengle jokingly claimed that he knew "jo-jo," a nonsensical martial-art name that sounds similar to jiu jitsu , and that he was learning "love." "Licked again Junior? Why don't you pick up a few pointers in self defense from Pvt. Lengle. A good soldier knows jiu jitsu, and jo-jo--right how he's learning love." Postmark on the back of the postcard: "Fort Bragg, N.C., Jul 28, 1943." Message on back: "Dear Ralph, Just a few lines to let you know I am fine. I hope you are too. Ruby [Ralph's nickname?], how are things getting along. I hope fine. I am still here and boy if they don't soon send me out, I'll go crazy. Ruby, we are painting just now and that ain't so bad, so I hope to get shipped out pretty soon. Well I'll say so long because I must go and box tonight so keep 'em flying, Your pal, Bill."

"First Pick. O. L. Schwencke, lith., N.Y." A cigar box label printed by O. L. Schwencke. Notice how a box featuring this label appears within the design of the label itself. This recursive picture-within-a-picture is called the Droste effect , which is named after the Droste cacao tin that featured an illustration of a nun holding the tin.

"Gas on Stomach for 20 Years. Exercies to help constipation (page 8). What to eat (page 12)." Constipated? Bloated? Nauseated by ads that discuss such topics? Then this small 1930s advertising booklet is for you! It discusses the benefits of Adlerika, a patent medicine that contained Epson salts and other ingredients with laxative properties. Do you suffer from other afflictions that you'd rather not discuss in mixed company? Then you only have to flip this reversible booklet over to read about the vitality of Vinol (see the cover on the other side below).

"No Man Loves a Tired Nervous Woman! Nor does a woman love a pepless man. How to get friends (page 9). How to hold your husband's love (page 12)." Are you tired, nervous, or--ahem!--pepless? If so, then you would surely benefit from reading this small 1930s advertising booklet. It extols the virtues of Vinol, a patent medicine that contained ingredients such as cod liver oil and beef peptones, plus alcohol (as much as 15 percent). Do you suffer from other unpleasant afflictions instead? Then you merely need to flip over this reversible booklet (similar to an upside-down book or a tête-bêche binding) to read about the wonders of Adlerika (see the cover on the other side below).

Identification. Name ________ Address ________ Employed by: ________. Taken by the Photomatic .... See patents listed on our daylight loading magazine. Made in U.S.A. International Mutoscope Corporation, New York City." Take a look at the front :

Check out the back , too:

Simplex Typewriters, Santa's Favorite, 1908 Sample of work of Simplex No. 1, $1.00: This machine will delight any boy or girl and older folks find it useful. Sample of work of Simplex No. 2½, $2.50: A neat little note size typewriter that will please Glays or Joe, or Mama for social correspondence. Sample of work of Simplex No. 5, $5.00: It will write a letter like this on wide business paper like Father's. Simplex Lithograph Co., New York. See also the front of this die-cut Santa advertisement:

"Simplex Typewriters, $1.00, $2.50, $5.00. The most instructive and useful gift possible to give any child, boy or girl. Come at once to see them demonstrated at E. Schneider & Sons Co., 80 Bergenline Ave., Hudson Hill, N.J." If you have any interest in the history of typewriters—or vintage ads, photos, and ephemera related to typewriters—then you may want to track down a copy of the recently published book, The Typewriter: A Graphic History of the Beloved Machine (Calgary, Alberta: Uppercase Publishing, 2015), by Janie Vangool (full disclosure: my name appears in a list of supporters at the back of the book just because I preordered a copy). I don't believe that this Simplex Santa makes an appearance in The Typewriter , but there are photos of a couple of Simplex (Toy) Typewriters (one dated 1910), along with Christmas magazine advertisements, Valentine cards, letterheads, postcards (including a copy of this one , p. 123), manuals, instruction books, certificates, touch typing charts (a colorful example similar to this one appears on pp. 86-87), die cuts, ribbon tins, and other delights. Here's the other side of this die-cut Santa advertisement:

A "Step Down" sign (featuring a manicule or pointing hand mark, like this: ☞) at the Lincoln Train Museum, Gettysburg, Pa., August 12, 2011.

A colorful touch typing chart on heavy cardboard with an attached easel on back that allows you to place it upright on your desk while you learn to type with your new 1959 Remington portable typewriter. Remington Color-Key Touch Typing Chart Here is exactly the same type of keyboard chart found in typing classes in leading schools and colleges throughout the country. Use this chart with the Touch Typing Instruction Booklet packed with your Remington Portable. This approved typing course is the fastest, easiest-to-lean of any because it relies on simple visual methods. You will actually be typing sentences after just a few hours of practice.

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 .

"The Bailey, Banks & Biddle Co., goldsmiths and silversmiths, Philadelphia. Kindly designate the finger size by number." While this ring-gauge card probably dates to the 1890s, Bailey Banks & Biddle is still in business today with an online presence and a number of retail jewelry stores, including one near Philadelphia at the King of Prussia Mall.

"Mitchell's Carpet Cleaning House, 21st & Race Sts. Carpets stored."

How can you resist? Send your card in today! "I will start you with this complete selling outfit. Mail this card for full particulars. Get my big surpise offer. . . . Try this business--you run no risk. . . . M. G. Roth, president, Ho-Ro-Co Mfg. Co. Here's your chance to make money--mail this card today."

"Certificate of Weight. Finger points to your exact weight: 109. Date this and keep for reference: ________. The Electrical Advertising Scale Company. Office: 97 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa." Printed on the back of the card: "If thou do the contrary to that which someone will shortly whisper in thine ear, thou will have good fortune."

Detail from Reflections on a RCA Victor Super Color Television, 1962 , showing the TV screen with its reflected image of the photographer and his camera. The photographer appears to be kneeling or sitting in front of the television in order to take a photo of what may have been his brand new TV set. The bright flash from the camera stands out at the top of the reflected image, the photographer's illuminated fingers are visible at both sides of the camera, and his disembodied pant legs (from the knees down) eerily appear by themselves at the bottom of the TV screen.