Nicola Ginzler

Senior Graphic Designer
Yellowed vintage 1906 illustrated postcard. Front: a black and white kitten with a green ribbon around its neck. The kitten is in a light blue vertical oval with a gold border, and holly leaves with red berries below it. In the bottom left is "Christmas Greetings" in gold type. In pencil in the center bottom is "From Adrian [?] Hallowell." In the bottom right is the manufacturer's information in faint blue print: "Copyright 1906 by H. J. Robbins, Boston." Back: addressed in faded black ink to "Master Ralph Springman, Palmyra, Nebr." Postmark is "Lincoln, Neb. - Dec. 24, 1906 - 11 AM." A green 1-cent stamp is cancelled with wavy black lines over red type that says "Post Card."

1906 “Christmas Greetings” Postcard: Kitten with Holly

This charming postcard was printed and mailed in 1906. I found the image years ago and finally did a reverse image search. It appears in a number of places, but the one I liked best was in an eBay listing at https://www.ebay.com/itm/226684767282 for $8.97.

Photo of a yellowed vintage 1906 illustrated postcard: a black and white kitten with a green ribbon around its neck. The kitten is in a light blue vertical oval with a gold border, and holly leaves with red berries below it. In the bottom left is "Christmas Greetings" in gold type. In pencil in the center bottom is "From Adrian [? Adriana? unclear] Hallowell." In the bottom right is the manufacturer's information in faint blue print: "Copyright 1906 by H. J. Robbins, Boston."

The printed text and handwriting on the front is as follows: in the bottom left is “Christmas Greetings” in gold type. In faded ink in the center bottom is “From Adrian [?] Hallowell.” In the bottom right is the manufacturer’s information in faint blue print: “Copyright 1906 by H. J. Robbins, Boston.”

Postcard is addressed in faded black ink to "Master Ralph Springman, Palmyra, Nebr." and postmarked "Lincoln, Nebr., Dec. 24, 1906, 11 - AM." A green 1-cent stamp is cancelled with wavy black lines over red type that says "Post Card." There's a vertical red line to the left of the address, and rotated 90º clockwise below it is red type: "No. 785 - Made in Germany - IN SPACE BELOW MAY BE WRITTEN SENDER'S NAME AND ADDRESS (NO OTHER WRITING)."

The postcard is addressed in faded black ink to “Master Ralph Springman, Palmyra, Nebr.” and postmarked “Lincoln, Neb. – Dec. 24, 1906 – 11 AM.” A green 1-cent stamp is cancelled with wavy black lines over red type that says “Post Card.” There’s a vertical red line to the left of the address, and rotated 90º clockwise below it is red type: “No. 785 – Made in Germany – IN SPACE BELOW MAY BE WRITTEN SENDER’S NAME AND ADDRESS (NO OTHER WRITING).” There’s no street address, so, while the postcard was postmarked, it’s unclear if the postcard ever got to its final destination.