Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: sailor suits

In this Halloween postcard dated 1908, a couple of black cats are looking up at a girl and boy who are leaning over a winking jack-o'-lantern. Handwritten message on the other side of the postcard, which was postmarked in Nelson, N.Y., on October 30. 1912: "10/30/12. Dear Nephew, Have you gathered many nuts this fall? Best wishes for a Happy Halloween. With love from Aunt Cora."

A Halloween postcard illustrated by H. B. Griggs (H.B.G.). For another postcard by Griggs, see May Love Light Your Halloween Lantern! Addressed on the other side to Miss Edith Yoder, 322 N. Pine St., Lancaster, Pa., and postmarked Portland, Ore., Oct. 27, 1908. Handwritten message: "10/27-08. Hello Edith, How are you. Are you getting the pumpkins ready? By the way I would have used your remedy for cold feet, but am so sorry you forgot to enclose the stopper. I should say I wished I was on that moon-light walk to take care of you as I kind of think Edith needs to be taken care of. Lovingly yours, Sara Hechtman."

This is the season the maidens dream Things of future unforeseen. Dream sweet dreams, oh! ladies fair; But of the future have a care! A postcard addressed on the other side to my grandmother, "Miss Annie Sturtz, Fairhope Boswell, Pa." (I'm not exactly certain where my grandmother lived at the time and why Fairhope was crossed out and Boswell written in). There are two postmarks--one from Somerset, Pa., and another from Fairhope, Pa.--both dated Oct. 29, 1908. The handwritten message on the back of the card is "Annie taking warning. B." My grandmother evidently didn't heed the warning from the unnamed "B." and married my grandfather a year later.

A Halloween postcard dated 1908.

Hallowe'en Pranks Halloween is sure to be Tonight your love you shall see. Another early "Hallowe'en Pranks" postcard published by the Stecher Lithographic Company used the same illustration but had a different rhyme: "This pumpkin face with merry gleam, / Will light your way on Hallowe'en."

A German boy with a "Rheinland" cap and knapsack is ready for his first day of school. He's holding a Schultüte (school cone) that has the words "zum ersten Schulgang" ("for the first day of school") printed on it.