This is a four panel folding postcard showing a panoramic view of Cornell University as it looked about 100 years ago. This card measures 22-3/8" X 3-1/2" when open. The individual panels of the view are shown below.
Three of the back panels are blank, and one has spaces for the address and postage stamp. That side was for the address only.
The printing in the stamp box gives the postage rates and the name of the publisher, The Albertype Co.
Cornell University is a Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York. It was founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White. The university was intended to teach and make contributions in all fields of knowledge—from the classics to the sciences, and from the theoretical to the applied. These ideals, unconventional for the time, are captured in Cornell's motto, a popular 1865 Ezra Cornell quotation: "I would found an institution where any person can find instruction in any study." This motto is included on the cornell University seal. (source: Wikipedia)
source: Wikipedia
There is a website with many vintage images of Cornell University here.
The location of Ithaca, New York is shown on this Google map.
The location of Ithaca, New York is shown on this Google map.
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Very cool postcard!
ReplyDeleteExcellent photos of the campus in the early years. I enjoy visiting college campuses and seeing how they evolved architecturally.
ReplyDeleteI live in Ithaca, so this is a neat view to see. The large clock tower (McGraw Tower, I believe) is still visible from many locations around town. I don't recognize the building on the right side of the card, but it just might not be in my memory.
ReplyDeleteThat looks like a huge campus, with some large buildings, so what an effective way of portraying it, as a multi-series detachable postcard. I wonder there are more like that around. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteThese are not detachable cards. I just scanned individually to give a better view.
ReplyDeleteI have never seen one like that, a 4 in 1 that spreads out so long. Funny how you got charged more for a stamp if you actually wrote a message.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting and informative post.
Kathy M.
And yet again I learn things by following Sepia Saturday. Great images and such an informative write-up as well. Thanks
ReplyDeleteMy daughter and I visited the Cornell campus on one of her college trips. She didn't end up going there, but it sure was a lovely place. It hasn't changed much from the days of those post cards. Except for a few modern buildings.
ReplyDeleteIt sure is in the middle of nowhere though. That surprised me.
Nancy
Interesting to see a four panel postcard. Enjoyed seeing the college campus - my favorite was the last photo. Interesting building and resembles a church somewhat with the glass windows and tower on the end.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting post, about quite a place. Nice cards too!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a folding out panorama like that before. It's very effective.
ReplyDeleteAn interesting format for what seems like an early postcard set. I don't see any electric, telephone, or utility poles on the campus so is it early 20th century? I often take similar panoramas with my camera.
ReplyDeleteThe building on the far right is the armory that was built 1914-1916. It seems more like an architect's drawing than the rest of the card, so I am guessing that the card is from about that time.
ReplyDeleteI've seen folding postcards that are vertical when unfolded but I haven't seen a horizontal one previously. Could you date it by the price of stamps? How times (and prices) have changed!
ReplyDeleteThat’s quite a campus and an impressive building.
ReplyDeleteInteresting set of postcards about a place that I knew nothing about other than its name.
ReplyDeleteCertainly makes for a splendid panoramic view. I wonder what it looks like now.
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HUGZ
For years I bought items on ebay from a seller in Ithaca. She always had interesting items worthy of a college town. Finally I have some sort of idea of what the place looks like. Wonderful old images.
ReplyDeleteVery interesting postcards, love the architecture - the clock tower reminds me of Big Ben.
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