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July, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 29
COMEDY & PATRIOTISM ON THE 4TH

by Roy Nuhn

Of all our great releases and a few for unpleasant tricks upon lampoon the British such
American patriotic Washington’s Birthday, unsuspecting adults, as one of John Bull,
holidays, including those mostly by the artist H.B. other children and England’s national
like Thanksgiving and Griggs for the L & E hapless dogs. This set is symbol, getting his just
Memorial Day which Co., comedy is a theme by far the most plentiful desserts.
have patriotic overtones, rarely found on patriotic and easiest to find today. Albert Hahn, who
only the 4th of July postcards. Similar in tone is used “AH” as his trade-
has a long history of Except, that is, for 4th Rotograph’s six-card mark, issued a somewhat
celebration, fun and of July cards. series No. FL219, drawn poor- quality set showing
festivity. Of the approximately by Gene Carr. These, too, country hicks in the big
Memorial Day is a 36 different sets, are cartoon-like illustra- city being hood-winked. It
solemn commemoration produced by 20 or so tions of nasty minded, is, however, a difficult set
of the nation’s fallen publishers, both domestic inner city children either to complete.
military heroes; and foreign, there is a looking for trouble, A smattering of
Washington’s and fair number of comics. finding it, or doing in singles, mostly without
Lincoln’s Birthday are Here will be found Fearless youngster about to light a some old man or pup. any publisher identi-
for remembrance of these tomfoolery of all kinds whopper of a firecracker! Unlike the Nash set, fication are also to be
great men and for contem- by rambunctious urchins (Wesley Import, Co., circa 1907) these are not easy to find. found. One, for instance,
plation and high style so it can be assumed Paul depicts a
of the spirited that the rest quite likely Finkenrath, somewhat
meaning school continue the theme. The Berlin unhappy
of our children, prize for the most original (“PFB”), a child
unique as well idea must surely go to the German rocketing
system of as some artist C. Bunnell for his publisher skyward
govern- offbeat Series No. 2076, executed of quality atop a
ment; and humor. for the Fred C. Lounsbury topical giant fire-
Columbus The firm in 1908. This is a set cards who cracker.
Day for earliest of four cartoons telling of exported Comic
apprecia- set for the the adventures of George heavily to patriotics
tion of holiday Washington as he does this country for the 4th
America was also in Lord Howe, King in the de- of July
as the the earliest George III and wins the cade before showcase
great Artist C. Bunnell’s humorous view of comic. In Battle of Trenton. Giant WW I, did Riding a giant rocket, Washington the happy
melting American history seen on this card 1906 firecrackers are involved two sets does in the British. fact that
pot. Only from Lounsbury Co.’s Series 2076. the firm in every case as a means for America’s 4th of July collecting such a theme
Labor Day comes close of Blanchard, Young of dispatching the enemy. celebration, one serious can certainly be a laugh-
to being an occasion for & Company began Most commonly seen and one comic. The funny ing matter and many
rollicking, picnicking and marketing a comedic is comic Series No.1, one is Series No. 9507 and deltiologists find this to be
parading. group full of animated usually attributed to was done by C. Bunnell, so. It’s all in the way you
And so, it was with rockets. The illustrations E. Nash, showing the the same artist who did look at it.
early American patriotic are quite ingenious and shenanigans of a very Lounsbury’s Series No.
postcards. Except for a funny. Of the two known unpleasant group of 2076. As he had in that Have a Happy 4th!
small scattering among cards belonging to this street rowdies who use set, Bunnell carne up with
Thanksgiving Day set, both are similar in firecrackers to play a few original ideas to

Part of Nash Series No.1 4th of July shenanigans. (T. Rose Co’s 1908 set) A tribe of children whooping it up with firecrackers
and a toy cannon.