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Page 18 The Antique Shoppe April, 2019
CENTURY-OLD EASTER POSTCARDS BRIGHTEN THE SEASON

by Roy Nuhn

Shortly after the turn of the 20th Milwaukee’s E.C. Kropp Co. Chickens and rabbits acting like people
century, a few years over one- offered a line of over 200 Easter rank among the loveliest and most
hundred years ago, the greeting style postcards in 1909 and, in New York ingenious designs used on any holiday
picture postcard enjoyed immense City, Davidson Brothers reported a postcard. The chickens were drawn
popularity with Americans. Hundreds tremendous demand for their cards using all sorts of transportation vehicles,
of millions of them, including many and was anticipating selling record- including dirigibles and automobiles.
for Easter, were printed and sold to breaking numbers of them. They also enjoyed rides on carousels
an eager public during a 15-year span Most of the commercially made of eggs. Many cards pictured them
of time leading up to World War I. successful American illustrators dressed in eggshell costumes, living in
Full of dressed rabbits, frolicking employed by the postcard industry, egg homes, and cruising down streams
chicks, sweet-faced children playing whose heart and core were in New and rivers on boats and canoes made
with colored eggs, and pretty young York City, did Easter topics. Their entire out of eggshells.
ladies enjoying the delights of spring, ranks included Ellen Clapsaddle, Well-dressed rabbits found themselves
Easter postcards quickly became part in similar portrayals, as well as carrying
of the customs and observances of wicker baskets full of colored, hard-
the season. Besides being mailed or boiled eggs; and delivering them to
exchanged with friends, relatives, and children and adults. The popularity of the
loved ones, they were affectionately child’s game of diabolo, a sort of yo-yo,
preserved in beautiful albums as resulted in several spectacular postcard
cherished keepsakes. illustrations showing rabbits playing with
Important publishers of Easter the toy.
postcards included Raphael Tuck & ↑ Children and a chicken, The religious theme, of course,
Sons, International Art, Rotograph, embossed Series no. 6202 pervades old Easter postcards, probably
by anonymous publisher.
E. Nash, and E.A. Schwedtfeger & more so than any other holiday except
Co. They and scores of other firms, ← “A Happy Easter,” two dressed-up Christmas. Large numbers of Easter
both domestic and foreign importers, children illustrate this embossed postcard postcards, some quite beautiful, were
produced huge quantities for the by MAB Co., number 1579. filled with crosses,
American market. angels and churches.
Tuck, the London-based Fantasy Among the thousands
illustration of
international giant which maintained dressed rabbits of different Easter
a large, very and their egg postcards manufactured
active branch house, embossed. in the early years of
operation in (postmarked the last century were
New York City, 1907)→ a number of novelties.
brought out While most of the
its first Easter better-quality cards
postcards in had embossing, gilt
1905. These edging and, on occasion,
sold briskly, gelatin overlays, the
and from 1907 novelties were another
to 1912, the way companies had of
holiday line enticing consumers to
every year buy.
numbered Novelties included
almost 200 six- hold-to-lights cards
card sets. These which when held to a
were marketed strong light underwent
in three distinct a change in color or scene, add-ons,
price ranges disk wheel kaleidoscopes, scene
aimed at changes, and those with silk, plush
fitting every cushion eggs. Though these innovative
pocketbook. postcards sold for a nickel or quarter
The postcard more than standard stock, they
emporiums in ↑ Postmarked April 9, 1902, this Easter enjoyed brisk sales.
the nation’s postcard was part of Series ← Pretty, The marvelous medley of colors,
large cities and number 5202 by an unknown publisher. young miss illustrations and special effects like
the postcard decorates this gold embossing, and novelties made
sections of 1908 embossed Easter postcards popular with many
major department stores everywhere H. B. Griggs, Easter postcard. collectors. So much was produced
received the most expensive, most M.E. Price in the earliest years of the 20th
beautiful designs, those selling for and Gene Carr. women, cute children, colorful Easter century that no collection can ever
25¢ a handsome price for the time. Miss Clapsaddle, though, was eggs, humanized rabbits and scampering be considered complete. All in all,
Small variety and retail stores located easily the most prolific. She drew baby chickens. Easter postcards exert a strong appeal
in every town coast to coast got the nearly 200 designs for International Most top-quality cards came in sets because they help recall the Easters
ones priced at pennies each or two Art over a 10-year period. of six, eight or 12, though they were of yesteryear - sweet memories of a
for a nickel. The artistry was filled with lovely usually sold as singles off the racks. bygone time.