Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Floral Racket & Ball



In honor of the Wimbledon tennis tournament (June 25 - July 8) I am posting a postcard with what I think is a tennis racket and ball. It doesn't look like any racket I have seen, but I think the artist intended to represent a tennis racket.

This postcard has an example of a floral object. The object is covered with small flowers. The most common flowers used on cards of this type are roses, violets, and forget-me-nots. Some fine examples of floral object postcards are shown on the postcardiva postcard blog.

I found the back of this postcard quite interesting. First, it appears to be a sample card giving sales information for this and similar postcards: Post Card No. 624, Assorted Designs 12 for 12 cts. Second, the message written by a schoolgirl looks like it could be a school assignment on how to write a postcard. The phrases written are very typical of those seen on many old postcards. The only bit of news is that the writer has a bad cold (which contradicts the beginning statement that she is well).
Dear schoolmate, I thought I would write and tell you that I am well and hope the same of you. I have a bad cold. Well I guess I will close.
Give my love to all the folks.
With love
From you loving schoolmate
Emma.



Well, dear bloggers, I guess I will close now with a link to a selection of vintage photos celebrating the sport of tennis. The photos are from Life Magazine and were posted as the 2012 Wimbledon championships were about to begin: Love All: Life Plays Tennis.




For More Vintage Images
Visit Sepia Saturday




19 comments:

  1. What a spectacular card. I think it may be a squash racquet? The history of tennis is so interesting, particularly for women, ...from the old long dresses and then Billy Jean King and now the Williams sisters. How the sport has changed.

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  2. It looks like that postcard was written by a very young person. Perhaps she didn't have the art down yet and so contradicted herself.

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  3. Nice serve! Great postcard. I would have never thought to teach kids how to write on postcards, but that is a great idea. I enjoyed your link to LIFE also.

    Kathy M.

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  4. Yes, that Emma certainly was ambivalent about her health.
    Loved the Life tennis photos, but I think they got one of them wrong. Joan Crawford looks like she's actually playing badminton.
    Nancy

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  5. Squash racket or tennis racket -- it's a cute postcard. I wonder if they had floral golf clubs too. I enjoyed the photos from LIFE.

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  6. A very pretty, but not very practical, racket! The LIFE pictures are very good, they even have the celebrities in there to link to this week’s prompt.

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  7. Thanks for the Life photos. Rita Hayworth looks as if she has never held a racquet before.

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  8. A very pretty card. I like anything with violets on it.

    It looks like a totem tennis racquet?

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  9. What a charming card. And in Wimbledon colours, too!

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  10. I love this card, so romantic, and I guess a play on the idea of "love" in a tennis score.

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  11. I have a feeling the Williams sisters would like a racket like that, not that it would survive their serve. Pretty card.

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  12. What a curious racket. Could almost be a snow shoe, or a hand mirror.

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  13. I don't think I've seen enough old postcards to have ever seen one completely covered with flowers. It is very interesting.

    Isn't saying "I'm fine" in response to someone asking, "How are you?" pretty common, even when one doesn't feel fine? Dear, honest little Emma.

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  14. The back of the card is better than the front. I love these unintentionally funny notes that are micro-stories.

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  15. What a pretty postcard! And the little "letter" on the back of it is so cute.

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  16. What an interesting racket, but the jump too cool...a very great postcard, thanks for sharing the video too!

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  17. What a lovely postcard - like the lavender color. Enjoyed the link to the LIFE pics - they also fit the theme with the celebrity photos.

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  18. Love the old postcard, kind of looks more like a racquetball racquet? Nice shot of the woman jumping over the net too!

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