This card is one of a series, but it varies slightly from the others -- the back design is the same, but the paper is untextured, and the colors are of a better quality. We'll have to take the caption's word for the subject. This may be a photograph taken of Blue River from the Market Street bridge, but there is absolutely nothing in the image to support that assertion. It could be a generic country scene, a local, with an overprinted caption (which might account for its quality). The "Red Back" series The cards in this series carry no identifier of manufacturer or publisher, nor any numbers to indicate their order in a set. They're "red back" because the back design of all the cards is printed in the same red ink. These cards are known to be part of the series: Blue River from the Market Street Bridge Court House Carnegie Public Library Birth Place of Secretary John Hay Last Day at Old High School "Lyon High School" Salem and Washington Township Joint High School Elementary School Sinclair Residence Flat and Salem Bank Christian Church M. E. Church Baptist Church Rock Creek (sic) Bridge Monon Railroad Arch Bridge, Salem, Ind. South Main Street [Blue River] Bridge Northwest Corner of Square (There's also the possibility of a second edition of this series. See the Salem and Washington Township Joint High School card and its alternate version.) This card was mailed from Salem, postmarked 12 noon May 18, 1909, the earliest date for any of this set in the collection. It is addressed to Miss Lola Stephenson, Bedford, Ind. The message reads "I came here for the day. I think Hester will go back with me. Just now met Grace Paynter and Mrs. Hall." It is signed "Myrtle." (6/10/99) Home | The 1900s | Next card