Vegetable People on Halloween

 Halloween
(Men dancing with vegetable ladies)

The sender writes:
Reached home all OK.  I got the light lit after I burnt up nearly a box of matches.

postmarked in 1911 with a one cent 'Franklin' stamp

Merry Halloween

postmarked in 1911 with a one cent 'Franklin' stamp

both use this stamp

Damien Hirst's Skull by Anssi Kasitonni

Anssi Kasitonni - ARS Fennica 2011

Amos Anderson - Taidemuseo - Art Museum (Helsinki Finland)

Damien Hirst's Skull, 2009, Photo: Jukka Salminen

postmarked in 2011 with a Finland Christmas stamp

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Anssi Kasitonni is a Finnish artist who combines his art styles with subculture, serious themes, humor, and popular culture . He was awarded the prestigious 2011 Ars Fennica prize which includes publication, an exhibition tour and a cash prize. 

The Haunted Mansion in Walt Disney World

 The Haunted Mansion -
Foolish mortals, once you begin your ride through this macabre manor, as your "ghost host" informs you, "There's no way out!" It's wall-to-wall creeps and hot 'n' cold running chills!

postmarked in 2007
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The Haunted Mansion
A "trembling trio" of deceased musicians strikes up a graveside melody... one of the Haunted Mansion's spectre-filled surprises in store for courageous guests.

unused - from the mid 1970's

Legend of Sleepy Hallow

Sleepy Hollow, New York
School teacher, Ichabod Crane, is being chased by the "Headless Horseman of Sleepy Hollow" thought to be Brom Bones, the town bully.  Legend tells of the Headless Horseman riding every midnight, carrying a flaming pumpkin and sword.  He would look for victims walking and cut off their heads.  The only way to escape his attacks was to cross the old bridge, past the Old Dutch Church, at the edge of town.

postmarked in 2008 with 26 cent 'wild cat' stamp

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"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is a short story by Washington Irving contained in his collection The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent., written while he was living in Birmingham, England, and first published in 1820. With Irving's companion piece "Rip Van Winkle", "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" is among the earliest examples of American fiction still read today.

The story is set in circa 1790 in the Dutch settlement of Tarry Town (based on Tarrytown, New York), in a secluded glen called Sleepy Hollow. It tells the story of Ichabod Crane, who is a lean, lanky and extremely superstitious schoolmaster from Connecticut, who competes with Abraham "Brom Bones" Van Brunt, the town rowdy, for the hand of 18-year-old Katrina Van Tassel, the daughter and sole child of a wealthy farmer, Baltus Van Tassel. As Crane leaves a party he attended at the Van Tassel home on an autumn night, he is pursued by the Headless Horseman, who is supposedly the ghost of a Hessian trooper who had his head shot off by a stray cannonball during "some nameless battle" of the American Revolutionary War, and who "rides forth to the scene of battle in nightly quest of his head". Ichabod mysteriously disappears from town, leaving Katrina to marry Brom Bones, who was "to look exceedingly knowing whenever the story of Ichabod was related". Although the nature of the Headless Horseman is left open to interpretation, the story implies that the Horseman was really Brom in disguise.

World's Largest Playable Guitar in Narrandera, Australia

Narrandera N.S.W. Australia

Home of the world's largest playable guitar.
5.820m X 2.019m.
1991 at the Visitors Centre in Narrandera Park.

postmarked in 2008 with an Australia '1.35 Grose River Gorge New South Wales' stamp

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The Big Guitar has its place in the 1991 edition of the Guinness Book of Records as the 'Worlds Largest Playable Guitar'.

Made by a member of the Narrandera Country Music Association Mr Robert Palmer; as a tribute to their interest in country music and as a focus for their association, the guitar took 300 hours to complete. Played as a bass guitar, two musicians are necessary due to its size.

Damascus, Syria - The Eastern Gate

Damascus - Syria
Eastern Gate (Via Recta)
L'Entree Est (Via Recta)

unused

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The Eastern Gate is one of the eight ancient city gates of Damascus, Syria, and the only original Roman gate still standing. The grand facade of the gate was reconstructed in 1960s.

The Gate of the Sun, as it was known in Roman times, dates back to ca. 200 AD.

Jolly Green Giant in Blue Earth, Minnesota

Welcome to Blue Earth Minnesota

"The land of the Jolly Green Giant"
60 ft., 8000 Lb. Green Giant
welcomes you to Blue Earth

postmarked in 2008 with 26 cent panther stamp

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Green Giant and Le Sueur are brands of frozen and canned vegetables owned by General Mills. The mascot of Green Giant is the Jolly Green Giant.

In the City of Blue Earth, Minnesota, a statue of the Jolly Green Giant is open to public view. In 1978, the town of Blue Earth, Minnesota paid $43,000 to erect a 55-foot (17 m) fiberglass statue of the Jolly Green Giant to commemorate the linking of the east and west sections of Interstate 90. It was permanently erected on July 6, 1979. The statue attracts over 10,000 visitors a year.

The 55 foot statue of the Green Giant in Blue Earth was the idea of Paul Hedberg who owned local radio station KBEW. During the summer Hedberg interviewed travellers going through Blue Earth on U.S. Highway 16 for his radio program "Welcome Travellers". At the end of each interview, Hedberg presented guests with a sample of Green Giant corn and peas which had been canned in the local Green Giant plant. A common theme arising in interviews was a desire to "see the Green Giant."

In 1977 Hedberg contacted Thomas H. Wyman, President of Green Giant, to see if the company would allow a statue of their corporate symbol to be erected along the new Interstate 90 in Blue Earth. Wyman granted permission under the condition that funds for the project were raised locally. Hedberg approached ten local businessmen with the idea and asked for $5,000 each; within a week the $50,000 had been donated.

It is mounted on a pedestal and has steps (you can see them by the giants feet on the postcard) so visitors may take a picture standing directly under the Green Giant. Blue Earth still has a canning plant formerly owned by Green Giant that continues to can corn and peas each summer.

Turtles in a Painting "Reaching For Above"

 "Reaching For Above" by Jan Leon


Tobwabba Art tells the story of the Worimi people from the Great Lakes region of coastal New South Wales.  Tobwabba Art is a living portrayal of the rich and diverse culture of the Worimi people that has been passed down through the generations. Royalties from the sale of licensed products to to Tobwabba Art and benefit the Worimi community.

postmarked in 2012 with an 'Olympic Pole Vault' stamp from Australia

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Worimi people are Indigenous Australians.  They were said to be taller and stouter than those living around Sydney and were said to be more prone to laughter than tears.

Ticino, Switzerland

 Saluti Dal Ticino (Greetings From Ticino)

postmarked in 2012 with a Switzerland 190 Bird ~ 'Milvus milvus (Red Kite)' stamp

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Canton Ticino or Ticino is the southernmost canton of Switzerland. Named after the Ticino river, it is the only canton in which Italian is the sole official language. Together with areas of the canton of Graubünden (Grigioni) it makes up the so-called Italian Switzerland.

The climate of Ticino, while remaining alpine, is noticeably milder than the rest of Switzerland's.  Additionally, Ticino is prone to fierce storms and has the highest level of lightning discharge in the whole of Europe.

Grotte de Castellana (Cave: Grotta Bianca) in Italy

Grotte de Castellana
Grotta Bianca (White Cave)

postmarked in 2008 with an Italy 0,65 stamp

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The Castellana Caves (Italian: Grotte di Castellana) are a remarkable cave system located in the municipality of Castellana Grotte. They are one of the most famous show caves of Italy.

Italy - Stamp 2008

Festival Internazionale Della Filatelia 2009, 0,65
(International Philately Festival 2009)

Wijk bij Duurstede in Utrecht, Netherlands

 Wijk bij Durrstede

postmarked in 2012 with two Netherlands stamps

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Wijk bij Duurstede is a municipality and a city in Utrecht, the central Netherlands.

The name 'Wijk bij Duurstede' means 'neighbourhood near Duurstede'. Duurstede is the name of the nearby castle/ruin, where the bishop of Utrecht used to live.

Wijk bij Duurstede is located at the place where Dorestad used to be, an important trade settlement, that was pillaged around 850 by the Vikings.

Wijk bij Duurstede has the only drive-through wind mill in the world.

Wijk bij Duurstede received city rights in 1300.

Netherlands Stamps - 2012
Huis Verwolde 1

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Castle Verwolde (Huis Verwolde) in Laren, North Holland is a paradise for anyone who loves nature and culture. The classical nobleman’s residence dating back to 1776 is located in gorgeous surroundings in a large private country estate. Accompanied by a guide, you can enjoy the beautiful landscape architecture, the art treasures in the castle, and then savor a high-tea in the tearoom afterwards.

Demoiselle Crane in Mongolia

 A young Demoiselle Crane, Mongolia

postmarked within the US with a 32 cent stamp

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The Demoiselle Crane, is a species of crane found in central Eurasia, ranging from the Black Sea to Mongolia and North Eastern China.

These cranes are migratory birds with one of the toughest migrations in the world. In late August through September, they gather in flocks of up to 400 individuals and prepare for their flight to their winter range. During their migratory flight south, Demoiselles fly reaching altitudes of 16,000-26,000 feet (4,875-7,925 m). Along their difficult journey they have to cross the Himalayan mountains to get to their over-wintering grounds in India, many die from fatigue, hunger and predation from birds such as eagles. At their wintering grounds, Demoiselles have been observed flocking with Common Cranes, their combined totals reaching up to 20,000 individuals.  In March and April, they begin their long spring journey back to their northern nesting grounds.

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Here is a postcard of these birds as adults ...

Demoiselle cranes, the world's smallest

(Mongolia)

postmarked within the USA with a 32 cent stamp in 2012 

Tonto National Monument in Arizona

Tonto National Monument

The Tonto Cliff Ruins were inhabited as late as the 14th century by early farmers known as the Salado Indians.  Salado is a Spanish world which means "salty."  These indians were named Salado because of their proximity to the "Rio Salado." The Tonto Monument, located near Roosevelt Dam, was established in 1907 and covers 1,120 acres.

Archaeologists believe that the Salado Indians moved into the area around 900 A.D.  The Salado Indians grew corn, pumpkin, squash, beans, cotton, and their crop fields were located about four miles away from the dwelings themselves. Like the Anasayi, Sinagua, Hohokam, and Mogollon peoples, the tattered remnants of the Slado were forced to move from their homes by the new arrival of stronger marauding tribes or that simply a prolonged cycle of drought made it necessary for them to find new water sources.

Photo: Willard Clay

This postcard is unused. 

Multi-Holiday Greeting Card

Universalkarte!
Frohe Weihnachten
Frohliche Ostern ...
und alles Gute zum Geburtstag

(Universal card!
Merry Christmas
Happy Easter ...
and Happy Birthday)

unused, bought in Germany in 2011

Temples of Sofia, Bulgaria

Temples of Sofia, Bulgaria

1. The Synagogue
2. St. Sofia church
3. St. Georgi Rotunda
4. The Mosque
5. St. Alexander Nevski Cathedral
6. The Russian church

(1-3 is the top row and 4-6 the bottom)

This unused postcard is from 2008.

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(Picture 1):
The Sofia Synagogue is the largest synagogue in Southeastern Europe, one of two functioning in Bulgaria and the third-largest in Europe. It is one of the architectural monuments of Sofia and can accommodate 1,300 worshippers.

(Picture 2):
The Hagia Sophia Church is the second oldest church in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, dating to the 6th century. In the 14th century, the church gave its name to the city, previously known as Sredets.

(Picture 3):
The Church of St George is an Early Christian red brick rotunda that is considered the oldest building in Sofia. It is situated amid remains of the ancient town of Serdica.
Built by the Romans in the 4th century, it is mainly famous for the 12th-14th century frescoes inside the central dome. Three layers of frescoes have been discovered, the earliest dating back to the 10th century.

(Picture 4):
Banya Bashi Mosque is built by the famous architect and civil engineer Mimar Sinan.  Its construction was completed in 1576, during the years the Ottomans had control of the town. The mosque derives its name from the phrase Banya Bashi, which means many baths. The most outstanding feature of the Mosque is that it was actually built over natural thermal spas. One can even see the steam rising from vents in the ground near the Mosque walls.

(Picture 5):
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols and primary tourist attractions. The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral in Sofia occupies an area of 3,170 square metres (34,100 sq ft) and can hold 10,000 people inside.

(Picture 6):
The Russian Church, officially known as the Church of St Nicholas the Miracle-Maker, is a Russian Orthodox church situated on Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard.  The church was built on the site of the Saray Mosque, which was destroyed in 1882. It was built as the official church of the Russian Embassy, which was located next door, and of the Russian community in Sofia, and was named, as was the tradition for diplomatic churches, for the patron saint of the Emperor who ruled Russia at the time, Nicholas II of Russia.

Chariot festival of Machhendranath, Nepal

Chariot festival of Machhendranath, Nepal

This was postmarked with a Nepal Coronation 1975 stamp.

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The chariot procession known as Rato (Red) Machhendranath is the biggest event in Patan, Nepal. The festival honors Machhendranath, the god of rain and plenty, who is worshipped by both Hindus and Buddhists in different incarnations, and has shrines at both Patan and in the village of Bungamati, a few miles south of Patan. The festival is held when the monsoon season is approaching and is a plea for plentiful rain.

During the festival celebrations the image of the god that is carved on wood is taken from the temple and paraded around the town on a huge wheeled chariot that is pulled by devotees. 

Waterville, Minnesota: Bullhead Fishing Capital of the World

Waterville, Minnesota, U.S.A.
Bullhead Fishing Capital of the World

Official Waterville Bullhead Portrait

Waterville, in LeSueur County, Minnesota, U.S.A., is recognized as the Bullhead Fishing Capital of the World.  Faithful scores perennially trek to Waterville, home of Bullhead Days festivities in the Heart of the Southern Minnesota Lakes region.  Here the Royal Bullhead, a friendly fellow fit for Kings, for barefoot boys, for the countless young in heart of all ages, is always ready to provide fishing action and pleasure in the pan.  The authentic Bullhead scene, featuring a Lake Sakatah specimen, is from the famous Bullhead painting which hangs in the Municipal Building.  The portrait is by Waterville's native-son artist, Roger Preuss, F.I.A., who is recognized and respected world-wide as the master American painter of our-door subjects.

vintage postcard, postmarked in 2012 with a 32 cent Aloha stamp that has fish on it.

On a side note: the back of this postcard was written in morse code!

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The population of Waterville was 1,868 at the 2010 census. It is close to Sakatah Lake State Park on the Cannon River. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km2).

Bullhead Days are still held ever year, here is a list of some of the activities you can enjoy:
Queen pageant, Softball Tourney, Street Dance, Fireworks, Flea Market, Kids Fishing Contest, Canoe Races, Demolition Derby, Pedal Tractor Pull, Grand Street Parade, Kids Bingo, 5K walk & run, 10K run, 11 mile bike race, bean bag tourney and much more.

The Three Eyes (Los Tres ojos) in The Dominican Republic

Caribbean - Santo Domingo (Rep. Dominicana) - The Three Eyes (Los Tres ojos)

This postcard is unused but has the date 1986 written on the back.

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Los Tres Ojos (The Three Eyes in English) is the name given to a 50-foot open-air limestone cave located in the Mirador del Este park, in the Santo Domingo Este municipality of the Dominican Republic.  A series of three lakes, or ojos, is currently one of the most visited tourist attractions in the country.

The caves are open from 9 am to 5 pm, and are illuminated at night by a myriad of colored lights.

Buffalypso (Water Buffalo) in Trinidad and Tobago

Trinidad & Tobago
Buffalypso at Manzanilla

postmarked in 2011 with a 'Dr. Eric Williams $ 3.75' Trinidad and Tobago stamp

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A buffalypso is a Trinidad -bred buffalo .
Water Buffalo were first introduced in Trinidad in 1906 from India. In 1950 they started to breed these water buffaloes in order to improve meat production. In 1964 it was decided that the variant sufficiently bred was to be appointed as a separate breed: the buffalypso -  a contraction of buffalo and calypso.

The Swanee (Suwannee) River

Way down upon the Swanee River, in Florida

unused 

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The Suwannee River is a major river of southern Georgia and northern Florida in the United States. It is a wild blackwater river, about 246 miles (396 km) long. (A blackwater river is a river with a deep, slow-moving channel flowing through forested swamps or wetlands. Vegetation decays into the water and stains the water dark, resembling tea or coffee. Most major blackwater rivers are in the Amazon River system and the Southern United States.)

This river is the subject of the Stephen Foster song "Old Folks at Home," in which he calls it the Swanee River.  It was called Swanee River because Foster had misspelled the name. Foster never saw the river he made world famous. 

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Florida
Official Song of the State of Florida
The Swanee River
(Old Folks at Home)
Written by Stephen C. Foster

First Verse
Way down upon de Swanee Ribber,
Far, far away,
Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber,
Dere's wha de old folks stay.
All up and down de whole creation
Sadly I roam,
Still longing for de old plantation,
And for de old folks at home.

Chorus
All de world am sad and dreary,
Eb-rywhere I roam;
Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary,
Far from de old folks at home!

Second verse
All round de little farm I wandered
When I was young,
Den many happy days I squandered,
Many de songs I sung.
When I was playing wid my brudder
Happy was I;
Oh, take me to my kind old mudder!
Dere let me live and die.

Third Verse
One little hut among de bushes,
One dat I love
Still sadly to my memory rushes,
No matter where I rove.
When will I see de bees a-humming
All round de comb?
When will I hear de banjo strumming,
Down in my good old home?

The song, "The Swanee River (Old Folks at Home)" words and music by Stephen C. Foster, was adopted as the official state song of Florida on May 25, 1935.

unused, bought in 2012

Red Foxx

Red Foxx

unused

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John Elroy Sanford (December 9, 1922 – October 11, 1991), better known by his stage name Redd Foxx, was an American comedian and actor, best known for his starring role on the sitcom Sanford and Son.

On October 11, 1991, during a break from rehearsals on his latest tv show, he suffered a fatal heart attack on the set. Reportedly, co-star Della Reese and the rest of the cast and crew thought he was doing his classic "I'm coming, Elizabeth!" fake heart attack routine he made famous on Sanford and Son, even going as far as collapsing to the floor, although that was not part of the usual act. However, this heart attack was real, and Foxx did not regain consciousness.

Star Wars - General Grievous

 Star Wars
General Grievous

This is a postcard from 'The Clone Wars' Comic Books.

postmarked in 2012 with a USA flag stamp

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General Grievous is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe.  He was voiced by Matthew Wood. According to the Revenge of the Sith DVD, series creator George Lucas instructed his creative team to create a villain that foreshadowed Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader: the heavy breathing and the cyborg body.

General Grievous' asthmatic cough in Revenge of the Sith was intended to emphasize his organic nature as well as the flaws of cyborg prosthetics. Grievous had previously appeared in Clone Wars before many of his personality traits had been finalized. To reconcile the differences between the two presentations, Mace Windu uses the Force to crush Grievous' chest panel towards the end of the show's third season (Volume Two) as the general makes a desperate escape with Palpatine. Some of the audio effects for the coughing were taken from Lucas himself, who had bronchitis during principal photography.

Ukraine - Kyiv - Pechersk Historico, Cultural National Park

Greetings from Kyiv
Kyiv-Pechersk historico-cultural national park, XI - XIX c.

postmarked in 2012 with two Ukraine stamps

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Kiev Pechersk Lavra or Kyiv Pechersk Lavra is a historic Orthodox Christian monastery located in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine.

Since its foundation as the cave monastery in 1051 the Lavra has been a preeminent center of the Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Eastern Europe. Together with the Saint Sophia Cathedral, it is inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 

Euro Disney, Fantasyland, Frontierland and Adventureland

Fantasyland

"Le Chateau de la Belle au Bois Dormant" (Castle of the Sleeping Beauty in the Wood) 

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Attractions in Euro Fantasyland

Le Château de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Castle)

La Galerie de la Belle au Bois Dormant (Sleeping Beauty's Gallery)

La Tanière du Dragon (The Dragon's Lair)

Le Théâtre du Château (The Castle Stage)

Le Carrousel de Lancelot (Lancelot's Carousel)

Blanche-Neige et les Sept Nains (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs)

Les Voyages de Pinocchio (Pinocchio's Fantastic Journey)

Dumbo the Flying Elephant

Peter Pan's Flight

Alice's Curious Labyrinth

Mad Hatter's Tea Cups

It's a Small World

Le Pays de Contes de Fées (Storybook Land Canal Boats)

Casey Jr. - Le Petit Train du Cirque (Casey Jr. Circus Train)

Fantasy Festival Stage - Backstage Magic With Mickey Mouse

Princess Pavilion: A Royal Invitation 

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Frontierland

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Attractions in Euro Frontierland:

Legends of the Wild West

Big Thunder Mountain

Phantom Manor

Thunder Mesa Riverboat Landing

River Rogue Keel Boats - Closed since Summer 2010. May open seasonally.

Rustler Roundup Shootin' Gallery

Pocahontas Indian Village

Woody's Roundup Village

Chaparral Theatre

Disneyland Railroad - Frontierland Depot

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Adventureland
Adventure Isle

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Attractions in Euro Adventureland:

Le Passage Enchanté d'Aladdin (Aladdin's Enchanted Passage)
Adventure Isle (artificial island in the center of Adventureland)
La Cabane des Robinson - (Swiss Family Treehouse)
La Plage des Pirates (Pirates Beach)
Pirates of the Caribbean
Indiana Jones et le Temple du Péril (Indiana Jones and the Temple of Peril)

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All three postcards are from Euro Disney in Paris, France and unused

Helene Chadwick with Lip Make-up called the V-Lip

Helene Chadwich (1897-1940) leading lady in the silents era, demonstrating the latest wrinkle in lip make-up, the "V-Lip!"
Photograph by International Newsreel, c. 1925

postmarked in 2012 with four Canada stamps

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Helene Chadwick (November 25, 1897–September 4, 1940) was an American actress in silent motion pictures and in early sound films.

Chadwick was born in the small town of Chadwicks, New York, which was named for her grandfather. Her mother was a singer who performed on the stage and her father was a business man.

At the pinnacle of her acting career, she earned a salary estimated to have been $2,000 per week. From 1929 until 1935, she found success as a character actress when sound was being introduced to films.