-
Dearborn, Henry Ford Museum, The Decorative Arts Galleries
Unused Curteichcolor card 0DK333. Grade: 1
-
Fayette Harbor
Unused Curteichcolor card 0DK-2075, aging somewhat. Grade: 2
-
Michigamme, Philomena Cottages and Motel, birches
Unused card, aging. If we were to go to these cottages (which are still there), would we see this scene? Grade: 2
-
Greetings from Michigan
Unused L.L. Cook card 40879 (391-R) dated 1959. Aging somewhat. Grade: 1
-
Prayer of the Woods
Unused card showing a “plaque (that) has been placed at several State Parks throughout Michigan”. Grade: 1
-
Dunewood
… at Duneland. Three of these unused Dexter Press cards 68787-B are available, rounded corners. Grades: 1
-
Greetings from Coopersville
Unused generic card captioned “Peaceful Retreat”. We sometimes wonder, but couldn’t verify, whether there’s a scene like this near Coopersville. Grade: 2
-
Detroit, Elks Temple
Mailed in 1910, dual postmarks indicate the card took three days to travel from Detroit to Spanaway, Washington. The stamp is gone, though. Grade: 4
-
Greetings from Grayling
Unused Tichnor card onto which someone has pencilled a 1941 date. Grade: 3
-
Dearborn, Greenfield Village, Gog and Magog
Legendary giants of London who somehow found their way to Dearborn, on this unused Curteichcolor card 2C-K11. Grade: 1
-
Gregory, Sarah Grindley Camp
Seems as though this is just a housing development now. Unused card. Grade: 1
-
Holland, Kollen Park
Unused Curteichcolor card 5C-K2519. Grade: 2
-
Holland, Lakewood Boulevard
Unused Curteichcolor card 6C-K1438. Grade: 1
-
Holland, Tulip Time
Unused card, part of the American Scene Collection from American Oil Company (and “See the U.S.A. in a Chevrolet”) in 1969. Grade: 2
-
Ironwood, Northern Woods Native
Mailed in 1949 from parents to daughter, with stamp, postmark, and sweet message. Grade: 1
-
Sand Dunes on Little Traverse Bay
Unused Curt Teich “C.T. Art-Colortone” linen postcard 4A-H1787. Aging but clean. Grade: 1
-
Lower Tahquamenon Falls
Unused card, some foxing and mottling on the reverse. Serrated edges. Grade: 3
-
Mackinac Island, Fort Holmes
Unused but highly aged L.L. Cook card 98294 (740V). Grade: 2
-
Mackinac Bridge, World’s Largest Suspension Bridge
It’s the postcard that says this is the longest suspension bridge. Time has overtaken the claim, however. Now, the Mackinac Bridge Authority says: “The Mackinac Bridge is currently the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world. In 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan became the longest with a total suspension of 12,826 feet. The Mackinac Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the western hemisphere.” Anyway, length is measured by the main span. Unused card. Grade: 1
-
The Mackinac Bridge
Unused Plastichrome card P23821. Aging. Grade: 2
-
Silver Lake Sand Dunes
We sometimes mention postcards’ claims of “largest,” “longest,” “highest,” and so on. We are especially taken with the caption on this postcard: “These picturesque piles of wind tossed sand are said to be the largest in the world.” (Anyone ever heard of the Sahara Desert?) Anyway … unused card. Grade: 1
-
Lapeer, State Home for the Feeble Minded, Administration Building
This was not the only facility with what–in today’s terms–was such an unfortunate name. One excellent online source tells us: “A state institution lived here. Born as the Michigan Home for the Feeble Minded and Epileptic in 1895, it died by the name of Oakdale Regional Center for Developmental Disabilities in 1991.” It was reputed to be the largest such facility in the world, then. The unused card has aged but is otherwise in fine condition. Grade: 1
-
Detroit, Belle Isle Park
The park is on an island in the Detroit River, between the USA and Canada. The card is unused Plastichrome P9727, and this is the “Fountain of Wounded Gazelle”. Grade: 1
-
Presque Isle, near Marquette, Along the Drive
That this photo shows Presque Isle is incidental to the story of the card. “Cab” refers to “Cabinet Sample,” because this was the master card (for this item) held by the publisher, showing stock levels, and every time they withdrew a batch, it was recorded on the back. All this took place over a long period, from 1926 through at least 1944. How we wound up with this, we’ll never know, but it can be yours. Grade: 4
-
Lansing, The State Capitol Building
Unused Dexter Press card 48423-C, serrated edges. Grade: 2
-
Sault Ste. Marie, Ore Boat and Fountain in Lower Park
“The ‘Cadillac’ starting its trip down the St. Mary’s River toward Lake Huron”. Unused, Plastichrome card P9601. Grade: 1
-
Battle Creek Sanitarium, Pergola Promenade
If you heard of or saw a film called The Road to Wellness, you’ll recognize this facility, which folded as a sanitarium just after the start of World War II. The film was hilarious (mostly) and so is the Wikipedia entry, which we wholly endorse as light reading. As for the card, mailed in 1929 with stamp and full Battle Creek postmark. Awesome! Grade: 2
-
Sugar Loaf Mountain
No, not that Sugar Loaf … the fanciful caption describes “Across beautiful Little Traverse Lake stands majestic Sugar Loaf Mountain … one of Michigan’s finest ski areas.” Unused Dexter Press card G208 (20-C). Grade: 1
-
Copper Harbor, Lake Fanny Hoe and Lake Superior
… as seen from Mountain Drive near Copper Harbor. The name “Fanny Hoe” now appears as “Fanny Hooe” in online sources, but not on this unused Curteichcolor card 7DK-1512. Grade: 1
-
St. Ignace
Seems like a generic photo on this uncaptioned, unused, Plastichrome card P12391. Grade: 1
-
Coopersville, Greetings
The greetings are imprinted on the back of this unused, generic, “local” card K11525. Noticeable aging. Grade: 2
-
Detroit, Belle Isle, Lily Pond
The unused old card says Belle Isle has 702 acres, but it’s grown over the years to, now, 982. As of 2014, it’s now a state park that you can visit for free — unless you’re driving. Grade: 1
-
Dearborn, The Henry Ford Museum, Museum Tower
The caption of this unused Curteichcolor card 2C-K17 reports that the “tower is an exact replica of … Independence Hall, Philadelphia … and contains even the mistakes made in the original building”. It might take more searching to find out what those are. Grade: 1
-
Lewiston, Greetings
Generic old Curteich-Chicago linen card 7B-H295 (S-1085), aging. Grade: 2
-
West Michigan sand dunes
Unmailed Dexter Press card 18391-C, with “Aug 20” written into the stamp area. Alas, no year. Grade: 3
-
Muskegon, Maranatha Bible Conference
“The Golden Text” on an unmailed card with a 1970 date written into the postage area. Grade: 3
-
Watersmeet, Black Bear
Generic unused L.L. Cook card 62905 (G-352), with a 1963 date and imprinted with the Watersmeet location on the front. Grade: 1
-
Autumn on the Beautiful Au Sable River
Unused. Grade: 1
-
Long Lake, Greetings
Unused generic card, with an inviting picture, and “Greetings from Long Lake, Michigan (60 Lakes Area)” imprinted on the back. (Did they count?) Aging, but Grade: 1
-
Mackinac Island, The Grand Hotel
Unmailed card with a name and 1973 date written near the postage area. Grade: 3