Inset and Add-On Photos

A Victorian-era chromolithographed card with an added photo (a rectangular portion of the card was cut out of the middle, and the photo--part of a CDV--was affixed to the back). As far as I can determine, "Merry Christmas 1890" is what's stamped at the top.

A birthday postcard with an oval inset photo of a woman.

A good luck postcard with an inset oval photo of a mother and son.

But how can we be happy when the Fairy Pied Piper (who seems to be playing a flower rather than a pipe) is leading all of the chicks away from the village? Note also the inset photo of a girl and a boy in the middle of the postcard.

"Hi Bill! Does the foreman know about this?" "He ought to, it's dropped on him!" A comic postcard with pasted-on heads that were cut from photos.

A photo for the Vintage Photos Theme Park to show an example of inset and add-on photos (photos on postcards, calling cards, etc.) . Text on this bogus bill (including the words hidden under the photo): "United States of Anemia will pay to the bearer on demand twe dollars. This is not legal tender for all debts public and private, and unredeemable in lawful money at the United States Treasury or any Federal Reserve Bank. A. Phoneybill, Treasurer of the United States. Washington, D.C. Twe. U. Cantcashit, Secretary of the Treasury. Twe dollars. 3." A souvenir "twe" (three) dollar bill with a glued-on photo of a woman that was probably taken sometime in the 1970s. The back of the bill (see below) indicates that it came from Mr. Sy’s Casino of Fun, which was located "in Fas[h]ion Square across from the Stardust Hotel" in Las Vegas, Nevada. For more photos on bills, see the Mr. Sy’s Casino of Fun posting on Katherine Anne Griffiths' Photobooth Journal .

"Mr. Sy's Casino of Fun, Las Vegas, in Fas[h]ion Square across from the Stardust Hotel. The United States of Anemia. Twe dollars. Twe 3." The center of the bill was discolored by the glue that was used to attach the photo on the other side (see below).

"A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, 1910-1911." A novelty postcard with an attached photo. The card was made from heavy card stock, and the design—including the flower—was cut or slashed into the paper. A single handwritten word—"Post-Card"—appears on the back of the card. I've found a couple of references to similar "razor-cut art" pieces, but haven't been able to learn much about them. I do have some other postcard examples with "A. Trenner, artist, New York, Atlantic City" printed on the back, and razor-cut art work on the front. A couple of other cut-work postcards are part of the "Kesto Graphic Series." Unfortunately, I haven't been able to track down much information on A. Trenner or the Kesto Graphic Series. Here's another postcard (below) that's missing a photo but is otherwise similar to the one above. A couple of other razor-cut pieces (see below) seem to be novelty calling cards bearing the names William Polk and Margaret Harper .

"A Merry Christmas, 1913." A novelty postcard decorated with "razor-cut art," including a flower and oval frame (for a photo) cut or slashed into the heavy card stock. For a similar card, see A Merry Xmas and a Happy New Year, 1910-1911 (below).

A valentine postcard with an inset photo of a little boy. For a similar postcard, see A Heart Free from Care to My Valentine :

Melvern R. Evans, an architect in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, created this remarkable folded Christmas card in 1932. The front of the card, which was printed on plain green paper, simply says, "Just a minute--please." Inside (see above) is a photo of Evans holding a Santa mask along with a message indicating that 1932 was a "poor business year" (it was the height of the Great Depression ). To remedy the economic situation, Evans suggests, "Let's take off the mask and stop playing Santa Claus to the entire world ," meaning, I guess, that the United States should concentrate on addressing its domestic problems before providing aid to other countries. Despite his feelings about the dire financial conditions during 1932, Evans ends his greeting on a positive note by acknowledging old friendships and wishing a Merry Christmas "to you and those you love" (see below for the full text of the card). Just a minute--please This is a time for deep thought and accurate action . Let's take off the mask and stop playing Santa Claus to the entire world . We must have contentment at home to be a happy family . The year 1932 passes--well let it--it has been a poor business year. But ...it has ripened old friendships --and it's [because of] that old friendship that I cheer it's passing with a Merry Christmas wish--to you and those you love. Melvern R. Evans, A.I.A., Architect, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, at Christmas, 1932.

Handwritten note on the other side of this calendar: "Ida Massimore. For faithful attendance at Sunday School. From your teacher, Mrs. E. W. Gregory." Mrs. Gregory is wearing a cross necklace in the blue-tinted cyanotype photo on this calendar, which she used as an attendance reward for her Sunday school students.

A valentine with an attached photo of two women (perhaps a mother and daughter) along with an incongruous illustration of howling cats being barraged by skillets, boots, and bottles.