Saturday, April 24, 2021

Sepia Saturday: C is for Cards

Sepia Saturday challenges bloggers to share family history through old photographs.


In the Sepia Saturday march through the alphabet, we are at the letter “C.” I have been going through the STUFF found in my grandparents’attic. Among the many bundles of letters that my mother saved from her high school and college years are these itty bitty cards.

Cards sent to my mother from 1945-1950

The largest cards were 4.5”x3.5” and 4” square.

The largest cards

The smallest were 3.5”x2.25”.

3 1/2" x 2 1/4"

Most of these tiny cards are invitations

To a birthday party


To join the Spanish Club in high school 

 

To the Junior-Senior prom

4" x 3 1/8"

To attend a party her first year at Madison College (now James Madison University – GO DUKES!

Rumpus Room - now there's a word
you don't hear much anymore!

But the PRETTY ones are the shower invitations.   

3 1/4" square
Momma's best friend Betsy Ward was getting married. Momma was the maid of honor. This party was hosted by Christine in whose wedding Momma and Betsy had been bridesmaids.                                     


Betsy was popular. She was showered twice!
3 3/4" x 2 3/4"



 

 

Just a week later, Momma was invited to Mary Jane Via's wedding shower which was designated a Kitchen Shower.

4 1/2" x 3 1/2"


 

The invitation to Margaret Aitken's "fine china" wedding shower was equal to the theme with that fancy 3D cut around the veil.

4 1/4" x 3"

Baby shower invitations were just adorable too.

3 3/4" x 2 5/8"
Shower for Cookie Mutter - must have been
for her first son Steve


This next one was actually an announcement of the arrival of a baby girl. It is a Hallmark card - nothing but the best! 

3 1/2" square


My favorite one is actually this envelope that my mother used to blot her lipstick. Now there's a keepsake!


In November 1945, all it took to mail such a small invitation was a 1 ½ cent stamp. But in 1948, that same size card required a 3-cent stamp. I wonder if such small envelopes are even allowed to go through the mail these days.

“C” what else there is to “C” at Sepia Saturday.

 Wendy

© 2021, Wendy Mathias. All rights reserved.

7 comments:

  1. These are so interesting! I'm so glad that you shared them.

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  2. I just love vintage cards like these! So fun to look at.

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  3. What a great take on the "C" theme! And how wonderful to have all those little invitational cards. Those are real antiques and personal to boot! :)

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  4. Well done! I can understand the sentimental quality in those cards that your mom saved. (Or maybe a better phrase would be: "not throw away.") But I'm impressed that the more ephemeral wrappers to the ephemera, i.e. the envelopes, were saved too. I confess to saving an occasional letter or card in my lifetime, (though not recently) but never an envelope. That's takes the resolute dedication of a professional hoarder! :—}

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  5. I love this! I have lots of cards, too which I need to spend some time going through. But first I need to complete transcribing letters, letters, and more letters.

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  6. This is a lovely set of cards! The stamps are fun, too. I have a similar set and I, too, was amazed at the many shapes and sizes. Now, if you send anything out of the ordinary, the charge extra.https://mollyscanopy.com/2021/04/undaunted-seventh-blogiversary-atozchallenge/

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  7. That is fascinating. I remember as a kid all birthday party invitations were written and of course you replied in the same way. We always wrote thank you cards for presents, parties, dinners erc. What a pity we don't use this charming way of communicating much now. I guess texting is the modern equivalent.

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