The postcard shown above was mailed in March 1908 from Farmington, Washington, to a woman in Winston-Salem.
The greeting on the postcard, “Erin Go Bragh,” has been Anglicized to express allegiance to Ireland, and means roughly, “Ireland until eternity,” or Ireland forever.”
The verse on the postcard is titled, “Irish Hearts,” and the sentiment is “Though the broad green ocean part us, From the Land I love the best. One thought I dearly cherish, That my Heart there find its rest.”
A printed note on the postcard indicates that this postcard was part of a St. Patrick series.
Another postcard with a St. Patrick’s Day look, shown above, features a 4-leaf clover with the image of a woman in the center. This was not a St. Patrick’s Day greeting postcard. In fact, it was mailed in November 1906 to the same Winston-Salem woman who received the St. Patrick’s postcard shown at the top. This postcard is interesting in that “Winston-Salem” is printed on the top left corner of the postcard. And, it is made of thin, flexible leather. The sender wrote on the leather with an ink pen, but some of the writing is very dim, as can be seen on the front. The written message is “I believe you are dear. Wish I was with you tonight. With love. E. C.” It is postmarked on the back and there is a 1-cent stamp affixed to the postcard.
Leather postcards were made as novelties beginning about 1903 and continued until about 1910. They were made from deer hide and the images were burned into the leather and colored with ink. Apparently the Post Office banned the leather postcards about 1907 because they jammed the mail cancellation machines. However, new leather postcards can still be found in some tourist locations.
Best wishes for a pleasant St. Patrick’s Day!
Postcards courtesy of Molly Grogan Rawls.
Stay tuned for the next historical post on March 22nd.
