Alan Mays' photos with the keyword: rays

"Certificate of Weight. Finger points to your exact weight: 109. Date this and keep for reference: ________. The Electrical Advertising Scale Company. Office: 97 Fourth Avenue, Pittsburgh, Pa." Printed on the back of the card: "If thou do the contrary to that which someone will shortly whisper in thine ear, thou will have good fortune."

A late nineteenth-century label by Huntoon & Gorham, a cigar manufacturer. Note the Gaslight Style characteristics, with elaborate typefaces, curved text, drop shadows, and the rays of the sun shining out from behind the clouds. Huntoon & Gorham 45 Providence, R.I. Huntoon & Gorham

"Remember when I called you mine in 1909." A 1909 postcard with a rhymed New Year's greeting. It looks like those are light bulbs forming "1909," judging by the yellow glow and golden rays emanating from each of the numbers. For a similar card in which the artist used flowers instead of light bulbs, see I'll Be Yours If You'll Be Mine in 1909 .

"G. C. Liesenberg, B.O. Box 48, Empangeni, Zululand, S. Africa. Photo by H. Duncan Abraham, P.O. Box 1699, Durban." A photographic QSL card from 1939 that provided G. C. Liesenberg's old radio call sign--exZT5F--as well as his new one--ZS5AW. The writing on what was intended to look like an oversized QSL card that Liesenberg's holding is an acknowledgement that he made contact with another radio operator on January 14, 1939. I like how his kid is pretending to turn one of the dials on the radio.

For more information, see the full cover of this booklet:

Cover of a short booklet: We Met the Space People: The Story of the Mitchell Sisters , by Helen and Betty Mitchell. Clarksburg, W.Va.: Saucerian Publications. Mouse over the image above to see a close-up of part of the illustration . Two sisters encounter space aliens in a coffee shop in the 1950s! Read all about it at the Internet Archive: We Met The Space People (1959) .

"A simple little shamrock that grows on Erin's Isle." Printed on the back of this postcard: "Raphael Tuck & Sons' Post Card Series No. 157 The Emerald Isle." Postmarked Newport, R.I., March 17, 1909, and addressed to Mr. Harrison Barker, 26 Third St., City.

An Art Deco mechanical valentine (moving the cape causes the arms to move up and down) from the 1930s. Sort of scary--hope she was able to escape! You built a wall So fast and strong, But with my magic ray It won't last long!

Santa's wild eyes reveal his determination to complete his Christmas deliveries as the sun rises behind him and his reindeer gallop across the sky, their hooves kicking up some serious dust clouds (or maybe they're just regular atmospheric clouds at that height). "Flora" used only her first name to sign this postcard on the front (at the very bottom) and on the back. The card was postmarked Batavia, N.Y., Dec. 18, 1908, and Flora addressed it to Mrs. Elmira Smith, Gainesville, N.Y., which is located about 30 miles from Batavia. She wrote a straightforward three-word message: "All are well."

After a record-breaking 30.2 inches of snow and hours of shoveling this past weekend, I'm trying to think sunny thoughts! 8-)

"Eagle No. 6. Quality Brooms. Manufactured for B. S. Janney, Jr. & Co., Inc., 119-121-123 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa."

"Fidelity, M. H. Smaltz & Son. Invariable quality. Selected long filler. Imported Sumatra wrapper. S & S." A cigar box label for M. H. Smaltz & Son, a cigar manufacturer located in Womelsdorf, Pa., until 1960.

"Sun-Ray Cigar. Pleasing to all. Mild and fragrant."

"Hotel Lincoln, Chambersburg, Pa. On the Lincoln Highway, U.S. 30." Printed on back: "MWM Color-Litho 'Bursheen' Finished, made only by MWM, Aurora, Mo."

"Design copyright 1908, by M. W. Taggart." Postmarked May 27, 1912.