Halloween Postcard Showing Courting "Cabbage People," 1908-1910

Summary

The first American Halloween gatherings were designed as matchmaking parties for young people, with games to "predict" matrimonial futures and ample opportunity for innocent flirtation. Friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting postcards - such as this colorful example from the early 1900s - that reflected these traditions.

The first American Halloween gatherings were designed as matchmaking parties for young people, with games to "predict" matrimonial futures and ample opportunity for innocent flirtation. Friends and neighbors often exchanged seasonal greeting postcards - such as this colorful example from the early 1900s - that reflected these traditions.

Artifact

Postcard

Date Made

1908-1910

Subject Date

1908-1910

Creators

Clapsaddle, Ellen H. (Ellen Hattie), 1865-1934 

International Art Publishing Co. 

Place of Creation

United States, New York, New York 

Germany, Berlin 

Creator Notes

Illustration by artist Ellen Clapsaddle; published by International Art Publishing Company of New York, New York and Berlin, Germany

 On Exhibit

By Request in the Benson Ford Research Center

Object ID

2007.53.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Cardboard
Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Embossing (Technique)
Printing (Process)

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 5.5 in

Width: 3.5 in

Inscriptions

Printed on front: "O, is my true love / tall and grand? / O, is my / sweetheart / bonny?" / HALLOWE'EN Handwritten in ink on back: A Happy Hallow'een / to you from Charles / P.S. I have a little / tiger kitten named / Sport and a black / bob-tailed kitty named / Bobby no Robert. See if / both of them don't / beat Tommy not / Thomas oh no. / Charles Addressed on back: Miss Helen L. Brownell / North Westport / Mass Postmarked: Newport R I / Oct 29 / 630 AM / 1910

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