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The engraving block used for this card is same one used to print the Hay birthplace card in the "Souvenir Postal Card Salem, Indiana, U.S.A." series. This card is as interesting for what's on the back as the front. It was postmarked in Indianapolis at 11:30 a.m. August 17, 1909, and addressed to Miss Nora Link of 1606 Bates St. in that city. The card is a letterpress reproduction on coated stock of a fairly coarse halftone, which shows clearly in the large version. This card reinforces the supposition that the various "Souvenir Postal Card" series were produced by a local job printer in Salem, although why this block wasn't used for the second and third versions of the series is a mystery. Perhaps the printer had misplaced the block, or thought the other view was better. Perhaps when the order came in for a card announcing the reunion picnic the block this block had been found again, or was judged less worn than the other view. It's tempting to assume that this card was printed as a special order rather than for general sale: the paper stock is different from the other cards in the series, and they are all printed in black ink while the front is printed in a blue-toned ink. But the back of this card is printed in black, a different color from the front, something that probably wouldn't have happened in a job shop. Still, until a copy of the card shows up with a blank back or a handwritten message rather than the printed picnic invitation, "job shop" is my theory and I'm sticking to it. (6/25/99, updated 7/15/04) |