PRETTY YOUNG WOMAN : RENSLER’S STUDIO : CINCINNATI, OHIO: MABELE FISHWICK : RPPC

This vintage real photo postcard features a studio portrait of a pretty young woman  wearing an adorable hat. The woman’s name is embossed above her image on the card. Her name was “Mabele Fishwick”. The 1900 US census reveals that Mabele was 15 years-old, born in 1884, and lived with her parents and 13 year-old brother in Cincinnati. In 1908 she married Clarence H. Hinsdale. The couple’s marriage ended in divorce. She married again in 1922 to Hewett Griggs Robertson. During World War I, Mabele worked with the Red Cross and then went to Washington DC to work for the government (Civilian Personel Army Ordnance”. During that time, Mabele was on a flight from Washington DC to Dayton, Ohio. Due to gale force winds, the plane, carrying nine passengers, had to make an emergency landing in a farmer’s field. In an interview with a reporter, Mabele said that pilots needed to be more careful where they choose to land. She explained that the Pennsylvania farmer who owned the field, charged the pilot $250.00 for “parking priviliges” and charged each occupant of the plane 50 cents for walking across his property. Mabele’s portrait was taken by Rensler’s studio, located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The advertising on the reverse of the postcard indicates that the studio had more than one location in Cincinnati as well as a location in Cleveland, Ohio. According to one historical Cincinnati blog, Rensler’s was one of the few photo studios in Cincinnati that accepted African American clients. The studio operated for 83 years and shut down in 1989. I have seen a number of photographs by this studio and many are excellent. The AZO stamp box on this card indicates that the postcard dates back to between 1918 and 1930.  (SOLD)

Published in: on April 25, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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FIGHTER PILOT ACES : WORLD WAR II : TOP GUN : MEDAL OF HONOR : PRESS PHOTO 1945

This vintage press photo features two American fighter pilot ACES. They were pilots in World War II and this photograph was taken in 1945 when they were on a mission to visit airplane manufacturing factories in Burbank, California. They were involved in a campaign to reduce worker absenteeism. These pilots were America’s #1 and #2 aces. The pilot on the right side of this photo is Richard Bong (1920-1945) was born in Superior, Wisconsin. His exceptional skill, courage and tenacity earned him the title of America’s “Ace of Aces” during World War II. Bong was fascinated by airplanes from childhood. In fact, he took his first flight at the age of nine. He took a civilian pilot training program directly upon graduation from high school in 1938. He enlisted in the US Army Air Forces in 1941, completed flight training and was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the Pacific Theater and flew primarily P-39 Lightning fighter planes. These planes were renowned for their speed and versatility. Bong quickly showed his unparalleled ability to outmaneuver and outshoot enemy aircraft. He quickly began to tally up a long string of aerial victories. Bong scored his first aerial victory in December, 1942 by dowing a Japanese Zero. By the summer of 1944, he had 40 confirmed kills to make him America’s top fighter pilot. In reaching his top status, he had to face aerial combat, mechanical failures, and navigational difficulties. In December of 1944, after completing 200 combat missions, he was relieved from active duty and sent back to the US. He received many awards, including the Medal of Honor. Bong’s life was tragically cut short when working as a test pilot, he died in a plane crash in August of 1946. Bong was just 24 years old at the time of his death. The second pilot in this photograph, Don Gentile, was born in Piqua, Ohio. Like Bong, his passion for flying began at a young age. He even had his own plane before the war. After Pearl Harbor in 1941, Gentile enlisted in the Canadian Air Force. Lacking a college degree, he was not immediately eligible for the US Army Air Forces. He experienced his first kills while flying for the Canadians. He transferred to the US Army Air Forces in 1941. He demonstrated exceptional marksmanship and aerial combat prowess. His tally of confirmed kills climbed steadily over time until he became a top ace. One of his more famous missions occurred in 1944 when he led a squadron of P-51s against a large formation of Luftwaffe fighters over Germany. During that aerial battle, he personally shot down three enemy aircraft and shared credit for two more. By the time his tour of duty ended, he had a total of 30 confirmed aerial victories. Upon his return to the US, he was active in raising money via supporting war bond sales. Gentile, like his fellow pilot, Bong, died in a tragic plane crash. He was killed while flying a trainer aircraft. SOLD

Published in: on April 15, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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TWO SISTERS FLYING AN AIRPLANE : STUDIO PORTRAIT : RPPC

This vintage divided back real photo postcard features two young girls flying an airplane. The plane is of the photo studio variety. The girls, judging by appearance, are presumably sisters. Although it is not uncommon to see a studio airplane on a postcard, this particular plane prop is uncommon. (SOLD)

Published in: on March 12, 2024 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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BIPLANE FLYING OVER NICE, FRANCE : EARLY AVIATION HISTORY : RPPC 1910

This vintage postcard is a great remnant of early aviation history. The card features a biplane flying low over the city of Nice, France. There are many spectators watching the plane fly over the Mediterranean Sea. Note the sailboats in the sea as well as a second plane seen in the distance. This card was produced by the Giletta studio, located in Nice. The message on the reverse of the postcard indicates that it was written in 1910. This card was published just seven years after the Wright brothers made their historic first flight.  (SOLD)

Published in: on October 27, 2023 at 12:00 pm  Leave a Comment  
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COLONIAL AIRLINER IN FLIGHT : LAGUARDIA FIELD : LINEN POSTCARD

This vintage linen postcard features a depiction of a Colonial Airliner in flight. LaGuardia Field, located in New York City, is mentioned in the caption. Colonial Airlines was a US airline that existed between 1942 and 1956. It was based at LaGuardia Airport (New York City) and at Montreal/St.Hubert Airport (Montreal, Canada). Colonial’s routes included cities in a number of Northeastern states and it flew as far south as Washington D.C. The airline also flew to Canada and Bermuda. Colonial merged with Eastern Airlines in 1956. This card was designed and published by Harry H. Baumann. This postcard has cornerwear and is in overall good condition (see scans). (SOLD)

Published in: on June 30, 2022 at 2:30 pm  Leave a Comment  
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THREE MEN IN A FAUX PLANE : NOVELTY STUDIO RPPC : BRICKFIELD HILL : AUSTRALIA

This vintage real photo postcard features three affectionate well dressed  men sitting in a faux airplane flying over a painted ocean. This novelty real photo postcard was produced by the Crystal Palace studio which was located in Brickfield Hill, Sydney, Australia. There is an amusing message on this postcard. Harry writes to Lucy and that she should tell Ben to get lots of booze for a planned get-together. He adds “we all like a little draft of whiskey”. He also asks her how she enjoyed her first “motor ride”. In the message, Harry descibes his flight on the pictured “airship” as if it was a real plane.  (SOLD)

Published in: on February 19, 2022 at 12:00 pm  Comments (2)  
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