As the calendar begins 2019, I share with you today a few greeting postcards from at least 100 years ago. These particular cards were sent for Happy New Year wishes to Aunt Etta (Henrietta James Hooper), you may learn more about her from my previous blog posting: Intro to Aunt Etta And Her Great Adventures.
My featured postcard is re-shown below, both the front and reverse sides. The publisher is unknown and I cannot seem to locate any artist signature. The picture on the front, in my opinion, is quite intriguing–from dogs operating a flying machine and their shaking out bags of gold coins to the scene below of a train just exiting from a mountain tunnel. The greeting on the front is very simple, “A Happy New Year”.
This card, shown above, was sent to Mrs. W. Hooper, (Aunt Etta) in Franklin, Mass., and it looks like the sender’s name is Mary Markam. It was postmarked from Providence, RI, in 1913. The handwritten message says: “Wish you a Happy New Year. Hoping to see you soon.”
The next postcard, shown below, is artist signed by Frances Brundage (1854-1937). In a previous blog posting, I outlined some history of this artist, take a look: Halloween Postcard by Artist Frances Brundage.
This Brundage card was printed in Germany, published by the Sam Gabriel Co., it was part of their “New Year” Series, Artistic Postcard No. 1301. The greeting on the front says: “A Happy New Year”. The message side is simply signed: “From Frances”. I do assume that the sender of the card was from a friend of Aunt Etta’s named Frances, not from the artist herself. The card has no postmark, address or message information so I am just showing the front side.
The next postcard shows a snowman watching children playing in the snow. It has a verse on the front: “New Year Greetings. Of all kindly Wishes…old and new, A Happy Heart…is what I wish for you.” 
This card was published by International Art Publishing Co. (1895-1915) and was printed in Germany, it has a number–Series 4672.
The sender of the card was Mary Louise Connor. It was postmarked from Franklin, Mass., on December 31, 1915. At the time, Aunt Etta was living in Franklin.
The handwritten message reads: “Am very sorry to hear of your illness, and hope that the New Year will find you much improved”.
So it would appear that Aunt Etta had some illness toward the end of 1915.
The next postcard was postmarked on January 1st, 1918, from Worcester, Mass. 
The sender was Mr. & Mrs. Clarke and the handwritten message reads: “With best wishes for A Happy New Year”.
Aunt Etta was living in Franklin, Mass., at the time.
This card was made in the U.S.A., but the publisher is unknown and I do not see an artist signature.
The lower left corner of the front side is marked as NY-103.
The verse on the front of the card reads: “May New Year chimes ring in for thee, Health, Wealth and Prosperity”.
At the end of 1918, Aunt Etta was living in Plainville, Mass., and the next postcard, shown below, was sent to her in care of Bernice Hatch. It was postmarked December 30, 1918, from Providence, RI.
The front side shows a steam train and seemingly the train station, with snowy weather. The verse reads: “New Year Greetings. A short toot-toot, from the engine flute, With a clang from the bell, so clear, And the train’s away with this to say: I wish you A Happy New Year”. The card is numbered on the front, N.Y. 130, was made in the U.S.A., but the publisher is unknown.
The handwritten message, on the reverse side of this card, actually lists a return address which is rare to find: “8 Western St., Prov., RI. Dear Friend, Just a word to greet you and wish you well, from an old friend, Rose”. As time allows, in future days, if I do some further research with Census records or City Directories I should be able to determine the last name of Rose.
My final New Year postcard, shown below, was published by John Winsch, the design was copyrighted in 1912. The greeting on the front side reads: “Best New Year Wishes”.
The card was postmarked on December 31, 1912, from Providence, RI and was sent to Aunt Etta in Franklin, Mass. The sender is listed as “The Three Graces” which I have yet to correctly identify but believe it to be cousin relations to Etta. In the message, the sender refers to “Myrtie” who I do not recognize but it may be a helpful clue in further research.
The handwritten message says: “Honey, did you receive the package I sent you for Christmas? How are you all. Thought you were coming in soon. Received Myrtie’s betrothal cards yesterday–suppose you have yours by this time. Best Wishes for a Happy New Year. with our love to all, from The Three Graces.”
That is a wrap for today!
With sincere wishes for a Happy and Healthy New Year to all!
Until next time…
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