Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: robes

A scepter photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park theme of canes, batons, spears, etc. This regal real photo postcard bears a dealer's notation on the other side that says, "St. Augustine, 1920s." The design of the Azo stamp box (with four corner squares) on the verso suggests a possible date ranging from the early 1920s through the 1940s. I haven't been able to determine where this king and queen may have been holding court. There are some people sitting on the porch of the building in the background, so perhaps this is a tourist site in St. Augustine, Florida, or elsewhere.

The word "Hallowe'en" in gold letters is barely visible against the dark blue nighttime sky at the top of this postcard. On the ground down below, five young women carrying jack-o'-lanterns and wearing white robes are accompanied by a black cat as they make their way through a scary forest where even the trees and rocks seem to have menacing faces. I'm not sure what to make of this scene. Could these be novice witches on their way to a Halloween initiation where they'll receive their broomsticks and black garments? Or perhaps they're just Halloween partygoers who've gotten lost in an appropriately sinister setting. Unfortunately, the other side of the postcard doesn't provide any clues to explain the illustration. A handwritten message says, "Was at Phila. [Philadelphia] for first time, Oct. 17, 1914, Ida," but otherwise there isn't any address, stamp, or postmark.

A Halloween postcard addressed to Mrs. Chas. Studt, Lilly, Pa., and postmarked at Conemaugh, Pa., Oct. 29, 1910. Handwritten message on back: "Dear Grandmother, I wish you were down to get some taffy & fudge and nuts. I hope you are well and I will be up soon. Roy. Printed on back: "Raphael Tuck & Sons' 'Hallowe'en' Series of Post Cards No. 174." For another postcard sent to the same person in 1910, see Halloween—Witch with Jack-o'-Lantern .

A Halloween postcard addressed to Mrs. C. Studt, Lilly, Pa., and postmarked at Conemaugh, Pa., Oct. 31, 1910. Handwritten message on back: "With love, from Kit." Printed on back: "Raphael Tuck & Sons' 'Hallowe'en' Series of Post Cards No. 174." For another postcard sent to the same person in 1910, see Halloween—Witch with a Black Cat on a Pumpkin .

A real photo postcard with "McDowell Studio, Clearfield, Pa." embossed in the lower right-hand corner. "The Brown Family" is the only thing written on the other side. Nineteen graduating seniors—seventeen young woman and two young men—posed for this photo in 1912. Given the location of the photo studio, these may be Clearfield High School graduates, but I haven't been able to confirm that (one site— Old C.H.S. Yearbooks - The "Bison Project" —reproduces yearbooks from the school but the earliest one currently available is the1915 edition).

"Ach(k)ing. I am a [king] to see you. Ak(qu)ing." A punning postcard (get it—"I am a king" = "I am aching"?) addressed on the other side to Mr. Arthur Steinberg, Marquette, Kansas, and postmarked McPherson, Kansas, August 7, 1912. Handwritten message: "Hello, Hope you got home safe and sound and did not get caught in the rain. Well I guess I can't come down for the hop. Wish I could though. Hope you have a good time at the picnic. As ever, Esther. Ans."

"Christmas Greetings, 1962. David, Ricky, Diane, Richard, and Helen Hughes." For another card from the Hughes, see Merry Christmas from the Hughes, 1963 :

"A simple little shamrock that grows on Erin's Isle." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Raphael Tuck & Sons' Post Card Series No. 157 The Emerald Isle." Postmarked Newport, R.I., March 17, 1909, and addressed to Mr. Harrison Barker, 26 Third St., City.

"Philadelphia Carnival, Easter Monday night, April 18th, 1881, at the Academy of Music. A. M. J. Mueller, del. J. H. Camp, litho." An elaborate trade card announcing the Philadelphia Carnival, which was held at the Academy of Music on the day after Easter in 1881.

Addressed to "Jamie Walter, Klahr, Blair Co., Pa.," and postmarked Klahr, Pa., sometime in 1907 (the month and day are undecipherable). Message: "All my wishes to you, Jamie." "Serie 410" printed on the back of the card.

A graduation photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park. "Alberta Mays, Class of 1936, Mulberry High School, Mulberry, Ind. Kobel Studio. April 27, 1936." A unique graduation photo for Alberta Mays (no relation) that combines a portrait of the student, a photo of the high school, and an image of a calendar for the month of April 1936.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park monthly topic of cats (submit a photo on this topic each week in addition to—or instead of—a photo for the weekly topic) . I'm not sure what to make of this snapshot of a white-robed figure reclining on a sofa along with a black cat. "Keith Richards' Mother" is the irreverent caption written on the other side of the photo by the antiques dealer who sold it to me. For another example of the precaptioned pictures that I bought from this dealer over the years, see Grandma's Last Step .