Tuesday, January 31, 2017

Space Shuttle Enterprise and the NASA 747: 1977 - 1978

The N.A.S.A. 747 transporter carries Space Shuttle orbiter "Enterprise" during final approach and landing test near Edwards Air Force Base, California.

Color Photo by NASA

KSC Tours, Visitor Center, TWA
Kennedy Space Center, Florida

This postcard is unused. I believe this flight was on January 31, 1977.
- - -
Space Shuttle "Enterprise" separates from N.A.S.A's 747 during approach and landing test V. 

Color Photo by NASA

KSC Tours, Visitor Center, TWA

This postcard is unused and is probably from 1977. 
- - -
Preparations for unloading Enterprise from 747 Carrier.

Alabama Space and Rocket Center, Tranquility Base, Huntsville, Alabama.

This postcard and it is unused. I believe this might have been on March 13, 1978.

Monday, January 30, 2017

100 years ago Harry Gardiner "The Human Fly" climbed this Building in Alabama

National Post Card Week
May 3 - 9, 2015

In 1917, Harry Gardiner climbed to the top of the Empire Building in downtown Birmingham, Alabama.  A crowd of 35,000 people gathered to watch "the Human Fly" scale the sixteen story building.  The Birmingham Ledger newspaper sponsored the promotional event.   This image was the cover of my book "Birmingham: Then & Now. (2007)

This postcard is from JD Weeks and is number 71 in a limited edition of 100.

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Harry H. Gardiner (1871 – after 1923), better known as the Human Fly, was an American man famous for climbing buildings. He began climbing in 1905, and successfully climbed over 700 buildings in Europe and North America, usually wearing ordinary street clothes and using no special equipment.

The climb on this postcard took place on January 30, 1917. 

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Rheinturm (Rhine Tower) with Lightning in Dusseldorf, Germany

Dusseldorf Reloaded

This postcard features lighting around the Rhine Tower.  It is postmarked in 2016. 

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The Rheinturm (Rhine Tower) is a 240.5 metre high concrete telecommunications tower in Düsseldorf, Germany. Construction started in 1979 and finished in 1981. It stands 174.5 metres high and houses a revolving restaurant and an observation deck at a height of 170 metres. It is the tallest building in Düsseldorf.
Germany (Deutschland) stamp 2016
Liebes-briefe (Love letters)
Stamp Day
Pen and Pencil Heart, 70  
- - -
Germany (Deutschland)  stamp 2005
'Tagetes' (African Marigold flower) 20

Saturday, January 28, 2017

Clydesdale Horses that pull Beer . . .

Anheuser-Busch, Inc. 
The magnificent Budweiser Champion Clydesdale 8-Horse Hitch has brought a thrill to people in every state of the union; here pictured in St. Louis, Missouri at Grant's Farm. 

This is postmarked in 1993 with 19 cent balloon stamp.
- - -
Here is a close up postcard of one another Clydesdale..
SeaWorld Adventure Parks
You can witness the beauty and strength of an Anheuser Bush Clydesdale at Sea World.

This is postmarked in 2009 with a 26 cent wild cat stamp and two Tiffany Lamp 1 cent stamps.
USA Stamp 1991
Hot Air Balloon
Ballooning 
19 cents 
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USA Stamp 2007
Florida Panter 
26 cents
- - -
USA stamp 2007
Tiffany Lamp, 1 cent

Friday, January 27, 2017

Gauchos and Girls in Argentina, Pan American Airlines

Argentina
Gauchos and girls perform folk dances in local costume at a ranch near Buenos Aires, southern terminal of PAA's Latin American service.

Pan American
World's Most Experienced Airline

This postcard is unused.  

Thursday, January 26, 2017

Basic Wisconsin Food Groups

Basic Wisconsin Food Groups:
Corn Group, Beer Group, Milk Group, Brat Group

This funny postcard is postmarked with a U.S. balloon stamp in 1993.
USA Stamp 1991
Hot Air Balloon
Ballooning 
19 cents 

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

The First Transcontinental Call, Jekyll Island, Georgia

First Transcontinental Call

Theodore N. Vail, New York, President of the American Telephone and Telegraph Company, participated in a memorable telephone ceremony January 15, 1915 - January 25, 1915 while recuperating from lameness at Jekyll Island.  In order that President Vail might participate in the long circuit call from Jekyll to Washington, New York and San Francisco a thousand miles of cable were run to the island.

Dr. Alexander Graham Bell was the chief figure in the New York call with Thomas A. Watson assistant to Dr. Bell, at the San Francisco terminal.  President Woodrow Wilson, in speaking to Mr. Vail at Jekyll said "Hello Mr. Vail!"  "Who is this?" (Mr. Vail) "This is the President.  I have just been speaking across the continent." "Oh. yes." (Mr. Vail). "Before I give up the telephone.  I want to extend my congratulations to you on the consummation of this remarkable work," replied the President of the United States.  It has been said that Bell created the telephone and Vail created the telephone business.
Mr. Vail visited Jekyll in two yachts at various seasons.
The Speedwell and The Northwind

Georgia Historical Commission

First Transcontinental Call
Jekyll Island, Georgia
photos by David Noble

This is an older postcard, however it is postmarked in 2016.

I tried to the best of my ability to type what is written on the plaque correctly.  It is awful small though, so there might be a mistake or two.  

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

Seat of Pluto, Red Rocks Park in Colorado

On the Seat of Pluto,
Park of the Red Rocks,
Mt. Morrison, Colorado

The sender writes:
We seen this rock the day we were in the park at Morrison.
Lovingly Alice

This postcard is postmarked in 1909.

- - - - - - -

Red Rocks Park is owned and maintained by the city of Denver as part of the Denver Mountain Parks system. The park is known for its very large red sandstone rock formations.

Red Rocks Park was the site of the Start and Finish line of The Amazing Race 9 which aired in the spring of 2006.
USA stamp 1908
Benjamin Franklin
1 cent

Monday, January 23, 2017

Mo'orea, French Polynesia

Moorea, French Polynesia

Photos by Brenda Perez

This unused postcard features a cruise ship and is from 2015.

- - - - - - -

Mo'orea is a high island in French Polynesia, one of the Windward Islands, part of the Society Islands. The true spelling of Mo'orea is Mo'ore'a, which means "yellow lizard" in Tahitian: Mo'o = lizard ; Re'a = Yellow. 

Sunday, January 22, 2017

Recipes from Louisiana - Gumbo by Mom

Gumbo! By Mom!

Louisiana Recipe for Gumbo

3 tablespoons of vegetable oil
3 tablespoons of flour
1 large chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
5 or 6 cloves, chopped garlic
1 can of chopped green pepper
1 can of tomato sauce
1 can of tomatoes ("Rotel" tomatoes for a spicier taste!)
1 pound, fresh slides okra (or 2 boxes of frozen sliced okra)
2 pounds of fresh shrimp
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 tablespoon of chopped parsley
1 bay leaf

For sea food gumbo, add to above:
1 small can of crab meat or 3 fresh jumbo crabs
1 jar of fosters

Slowly stir the flour into heated oil in a heavy cast iron skillet.  Continue to stir until the flour is dark brown.  Add the next four ingredients; stir until onions are clear.

Add tomato sauce.  Stir until it gets crumbly or dry.  Fry okra in another skillet until it is no longer sticky or stringy.  Add tomatoes and fried okra.

Cook slowly, adding 2 to 3 cups of water - a little at the time.  Season with salt and pepper to taste.  Stir in one teaspoon of sugar.

Cook for about on a hour on a low fire, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking to the bottom of pot:  adding water if necessary.  Add the shrimp and a bay leaf (and if desired, the oysters and crabmeat).

Cook another 30 minutes to an hour adding seasoning to taste.

Serve over boiled or steamed rice.

This unused postcard is from 'The Postcard Factory'.

Saturday, January 21, 2017

The Giant's Causeway in Ireland

Evening at the Giant's Causeway
Co. Antrim
Northern Ireland

Photo by Esler Crawford
Published by John Hinde, Ltd.

This postcard is unused.

- - - - - - -

The Giant's Causeway is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption.  It was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1986.

- - -

Incase anyone wants to know what basalt columns are...

During the cooling of a thick lava flow, contractional joints or fractures form. If a flow cools relatively rapidly, significant contraction forces build up. While a flow can shrink in the vertical dimension without fracturing, it can't easily accommodate shrinking in the horizontal direction unless cracks form; the extensive fracture network that develops results in the formation of columns. The topology of the lateral shapes of these columns can broadly be classed as a random cellular network. These structures are predominantly hexagonal in cross-section, but polygons with three to twelve or more sides can be observed.  The size of the columns depends loosely on the rate of cooling; very rapid cooling may result in very small (<1 cm diameter) columns, while slow cooling is more likely to produce large columns.

Friday, January 20, 2017

A Platypus Postcard

The Platypus
This and the Echidna are the only egg-laying mammals in the world.  It eats mainly worms and tadpoles, obtained under-water, returning to the surface to breathe.

This vintage postcard is unused. 

Thursday, January 19, 2017

A Statue of Septimus Severus in Libya

Septimus Severus
Leptismagna - Libya

This postcard is postmarked in 2009 from Libya.

- - - - - - -

Septimius Severus (11 April 145 – 4 February 211), was the Roman emperor from 193 to 211.  As a young man he advanced through the cursus honorum—the customary succession of offices—under the reigns of Marcus Aurelius and Commodus. Severus seized power after the death of Emperor Pertinax in 193 during the Year of the Five Emperors.

 In 208 he invaded Caledonia (modern Scotland), but his ambitions were cut short when he fell fatally ill in late 210.  Severus died in early 211 at Eboracum (today York, England), and was succeeded by his sons Caracalla and Geta.
The Great Socialist People's 
Libyan Arab Jamahiriya 
300
State Coat of Arms

Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Sh2-106, Emission Nebula and Star Formation in the Milky Way

The sender writes:
This bipolar star forming region is called Sharpless 2-106.  This picture is a December 2011 release from NASA / Hubble of a Nebula that looks like a snow angel.
The heavens declare HIS glory!

This postcard is postmarked in 2014.

- - - - - - -

Sh2-106 is an emission nebula and a star formation region in the constellation Cygnus. It is in an isolated area of the Milky Way.

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

Cacela Velha in Algarve, Portugal

Algarve
Cacela  Velha (the name of the village)
Portugal

The sender writes that this is where everyone goes in the summer and that it has many tourists from all over Europe.

The first picture is the Cacela Velha Fortress.

This is postmarked in 2009 with a Portugal stamp.
Comunidade Ismaili
The Ismaili Community in Portugal
1957 - Imamat De S. A. Aga Khan - 2007

Monday, January 16, 2017

Happy Birthday to My Crazy B.F.F.

Happy Birthday to my Crazy B.F.F. (Best Friend Forever)

The sender writes:
I'm so glad God made you the way He did! Such a fun, fantastic friend!  Happy Birthday!

This postcard was sent from my best friend of many years in January, 2016.
USA stamp 2015
Coastal Birds
King Eider 
Postcard Rate

Sunday, January 15, 2017

A Map of the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador

Galapagos Islands
Ecuador

Wolf, Marchena, Genovesa, Santiago, Bartolome, Ragida, Fernandina, Isabela, Pinzon, Baltra, Santa Fe, Sta. Maria (Floreana) and Espanola

This unused map postcard features many animals, birds, sharks, dolphins, seals, iguanas and more. It is from 2015.

Saturday, January 14, 2017

Humphrey Bogart

Humphrey Bogart

This unused postcard was printed in 1987. (aka 9teen87 ;-)

- - - - - - -

Humphrey DeForest Bogart (December 25, 1899 – January 14, 1957) was an American screen actor who performed in such iconic films as The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, and The Big Sleep.  Over his career he received three Academy Award nominations for Best Actor, winning one.  He was nominated for Casablanca and The Caine Mutiny and he won for The African Queen.

Friday, January 13, 2017

A Large Letter Postcard of Ashland, Oregon

Ashland, Oregon

Oregon's most lovable and memorable City, the Swans in beautiful Lithia Park, the Shakespearean Festival, the Ski slopes of Mt. Ashland, the Bagpipers, the War Memorial on the Plaza, Southern Oregon State College, the quaint little Shops, and so much, so much more.

This is postmarked in 1990 with 15 cent Buffalo Bill Cody stamp.
USA stamp 1988
Great Americans
Buffalo Bill Cody
15 cents

Thursday, January 12, 2017

A 'Home-made' Star Wars Advertising Postcard!

Rogue One
Star Wars
Limited Edition
Death Star
COMBO

Ask your server for details!

When I went to see Rogue One on opening night my server handed me this advertisement.  It is on a thick paper with a solid white back.  Of course I bought the package and asked to keep the paper ad.  Then I added a space related stamp to the back and mailed it to myself!  I was at a Cineplex theater where you eat at the movies.  There are big leather seats that recline.  It is the ONLY way to watch a Star Wars movie on opening night.  ;-)
USA stamp 2016
Pluto - Explored
Forever a first class stamp

Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Dalmatia, Croatia

Dalmatia
Croatia

This postcard is postmarked in 2016.

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The name Dalmatia is from the name of the Dalmatae tribe, which is connected with the Illyrian word delme meaning "sheep".  Its Latin form Dalmatia translates to its current English name.

Dalmatia is referenced in the New Testament at 2 Timothy 4:10 so its name has been translated in many of the world's languages.

2 Timothy 4:10:
for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia.

- - -

The Dalmatian dog's roots trace back to Croatia and its historical region of Dalmatia.
Croatia (Hrvatska) stamp 2014 
Croatian Undersea World
Promjenjiva sumporaca
Aplysina acrophobia (Type of coral
5,80

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Village des Bories, A Museum in France

Bories dans le Luberon
La Provence
bories dans le Luberon

Photo: A. Levy

This postcard is postmarked in 2014 from France with the signatures of around 18 Postcrossing members who attended a Postcrossing meet-up.

- - - - - - -

Village des Bories is an open-air museum of 20 or so dry stone huts located in the Vaucluse department of France.
France stamp 2013
Red Cross
Champtoceaux (former commune in France)
Design: Isy Ochoa
0,63 + 20 g

Monday, January 9, 2017

A Vintage Funny Skunk Postcard . . .

I'm just a little stinker and I travel everywhere - 
Folks can't see or hear me and yet they know I'm There!

The skunk on this funny postcard is reading a book called, 'How to Make Friends and Influence People'. 

This card is postmarked in 1956.
USA stamp 1954
Thomas Jefferson
2 cents

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Elvis Presley's Army Home in Germany

Army Home of Elvis Presley
1958 - 1960
Friedberg / Hessen / Germany

This postcard is postmarked in 2015 with three Germany stamps. 

- - - - - - -

After being drafted in 1958 Elvis Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) joined the 3rd Armored Division who were stationed at Ray Barracks in Friedberg. He choose to not receive any special treatment and was respected for not joining Special Services, which would have allowed him to avoid certain duties and maintain his public profile.  
Snowman in a Snow Globe, 60
- - -
And two of these...
Flowers - Tulpe (tulip) - 10

Saturday, January 7, 2017

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston, 1935.
Photograph by Carl Van Vechten

This postcard is postmarked in 2015.

- - - - - - -

Zora Neale Hurston (January 7, 1891 – January 28, 1960) was an American novelist, short story writer, folklorist, and anthropologist. Of Hurston's four novels and more than 50 published short stories, plays, and essays, she is best known for her 1937 novel Their Eyes Were Watching God.
USA stamp 2014
Winter Fun
Making a Snow Angel 
Forever a first rate stamp

Friday, January 6, 2017

The Executive Mansion in Monrovia, Liberia

Executive Mansion by Night, Monrovia, Liberia
Photo: E. Ludwig, John Hinde Studios.

Monrovia: The Executive Mansion was completed in 1964 and is one of the most impressive buildings in Monrovia.

This postcard is unused.

- - - - - - -

I tried to find on the internet if this building was still up.  I read on one site that it was gutted by fire on July 26, 2006.  Another site said it was now only used by squatters. 

Thursday, January 5, 2017

A 3D Postcard of a Sidewinder Rattlesnake

Sidewinder Snake
Crotalus cerastes

The Sidewinder is a venomous pit viper rattlesnake species found in the arid regions of the Southwestern USA.  The name refers to the snake's unusual form of locomotion.

This 3D postcard is postmarked in 2016.
USA stamp 2016 
15th c. Florentine 
Madonna and Child
National Gallery of Art
Forever a first class stamp

Wednesday, January 4, 2017

I Saw You With Another Fellow and I Don't Care

I Don't Care

I saw you with another fellow, but I don't care,
You do not love me any more, but I don't care.
Perhaps you think you made me mad, but I don't care,
Some other girl will make me glad, so I don't care.

This postcard was sent from 'A Friend' to Miss Rebecca
Mean+ney in (I'm guessing) 1911.

I think if 'mr. friend' didn't care about dating her, he would have spent the time and money to buy the postcard and stamp and call her a meany.

Here is a scan of the back of the postcard . . .
USA stamp 1908
Benjamin Franklin
1 cent