Funny Fold-Out Linen Postcards

Vintage Fold-Out Linen Postcards

Included in a recent lot buy, a vintage set of linen fold-out postcards by Curt Teich & Co., Inc., nine cards long, printed on both sides. They’re not dated, but I’m guessing they are from the 1930s or so (though Curt Teich did make linen cards through the 50s).

These fold-out postcards were apparently in some sort of envelope — a more traditional paper envelope, not the colorful folders you see with those Hollywood folio types. A bit of it is still attached to the top.

What’s so fascinating about these postcards is that they are not scenic souvenir images; these vintage postcards feature a selection of equally vintage jokes.

The humor includes the corn-ball jokes you’d expect, like dogs peeing on fire hydrants, “sorry I haven’t written” sentiments, & fisherman jokes. They hold up about as well now as they did then (I’m sure everyone has always smirked and rolled their eyes more than laughed at these jokes).

Many of the postcards contained risqué humor — some at the lady’s expense…

Same Old Moon Vintage Postcard

Others at the gentleman’s expense.

Vintage Risqué Postcard

Other cards were truly the products of their time, with Black Americana images we’d call racist today.

Black Americana Postcard With Girl On Potty

Scenic images on fold-out postcard would seem to make more sense than these humor ones… Because the cards are printed on both sides, there’s no place to send a note with the, “weather is wonderful, wish you were here — but you’re not Ha Ha Ha!” message — so purchasing a set as a memento of your trip a set of cards with scenes you’ve seen would make sense. But apparently someone did send these off to someone back home — or at least I’m assuming that because the envelope is torn off and missing. And there’s a note penciled on this one about painful sunburns:

Penciled Note About Sunburn On Vintage Postcard

I’m not sure the original recipient found these postcards very enlightening as far as their friend’s vacation went, but I find them to be a fascinating little time capsule.