The wear and dirt disguise this card's kinship to the Souvenir Postal USA view of the courthouse. The two cards are printed from the same engraving block. The only difference is the caption -- and the fact that this card appears to have been crookedly trimmed with scissors across the top and right side, perhaps because it is larger than the other cards in the series. (It is 3 5/8" wide by 5 3/4" high -- the others vary slightly, but are all under 3 1/2" by 5 /12".) The half-tone cut is crisp and clear. The vignetting at the lower corners is done in the plate. The text on the back omits the "SALEM, INDIANA, U.S.A." found on the older versions of the cards in these series. The card was postmarked from Vallonia, Indiana, on September 15, 1907, at 9 a.m. and addressed to Mr. Horace Gabbert, 408 East High Street, Urbana, Ill. The message, written on the front below the caption, is nearly illegible, but appears to read, "Why don't you arr. Sept. 13 a.m.?" (1/5/02) Home | The 1900s | Next card