**** UNIQUE GROUP OF 4 WORLD WAR ONE POSTCARDS ****
BORDERLESS POSTCARDS ON LIGHT CREAM CARD STOCK
AMERICAN RED CROSS - YMCA - SOLDIERS' MAIL - SAILORS' MAIL
SUPERB & RARE VINTAGE WW1 POST CARDS
VINTAGE 1917 TO 1919
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The AMERICAN RED CROSS and YMCA were two of the seven organizations which constituted the UNITED WAR WORK CAMPAIGN after the United States entered the Great War in April, 1917. The other organizations were the YWCA, JEWISH WELFARE BOARD, KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS, SALVATION ARMY, and AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION.
Through the sale of Government War Bonds and donations, the Campaign raised the staggering total of $170 million for the benefits of US Servicemen of all faiths.
AMERICAN RED CROSS printed and distributed THREE different postcards for use by the Military. They were all 5½" x 3¼" in size (approx. 140mm x 80mm) :
(1) SAILORS' MAIL / (RED CROSS) / NO POSTAGE NECESSARY [reverse] "THE SHIP ON WHICH I SAILED HAS ARRIVED SAFELY OVERSEAS". This postcard is addressed in ink to Mrs L D Davis, of Lima, Ohio. No other printing on this side.
Condition: very fine; postmarked by Flag and Eagle wavy machine cancel MILITARY / POST OFFICE / SOLDIER'S MAIL. NO rips, tears, wrinkles or foxing visible; normal handling marks and edge wear.
(2) SOLDIERS' MAIL / (RED CROSS) / NO POSTAGE NECESSARY [reverse] "THE SHIP ON WHICH I SAILED HAS ARRIVED SAFELY OVERSEAS / Name / Organization" with "American Expeditionary Forces" printed in half-size below. The card is addressed to Mrs Martha Faulconer, of Independence, Missouri.
Condition: very good; postmarked with Flag and Eagle wavy machine cancel MILITARY / POST OFFICE / SOLDIERS MAIL; normal handling marks and edge wear
Both cards (1) and (2) above have the actual 'Red Cross' printed 5/8" square (approx. 10mm square).
(3) SOLDIERS' MAIL / (AMERICAN RED CROSS CANTEEN (RED CROSS) SERVICE SHIELD) / NO POSTAGE NECESSARY [reverse] "I HAVE ARRIVED SAFELY OVERSEAS", followed by a faint single line on which the soldier wrote his name and number. Much smaller print at the bottom left corner reads "This card will be held until safe / arrival of the boat on which I sailed."(2 lines). The 'Red Cross' within the Shield is much smaller than in (1) and (2).
The postcard is written in pencil by Pvt. Clarence B Larson (833939), with return address given as A.E.F., Via New York City, N.Y. (port of embarkation).
At the upper right corner, an undated 3-line "Soldier's Mail / Mail Censor / U.S. Army Base" post mark was stamped in purple ink.
Condition: very good; light top left to lower right diagonal and right corner creases DO NOT detract; postmark as above; NO rips, tears, wrinkles, age marks.
All completed "Safe Arrival" cards were collected at the ports of debarkation, and only mailed once confirmation of the ship's arrival in Europe had been confirmed.
(4) ULTRA-SCARCE VERY EARLY COLORIZED DIVIDED BACK PICTURE POST CARD of "LADY LIBERTY / SOLDIER / SAILOR" with the letters 'YMCA' inside a blue rectangle over the famous red triangle. The blue rectangle was omitted from all other YMCA-printed postcards of the period (circa late 1917)
Below the three figures is printed: "Ready! and / Come what may - We each / Shall play Our Part with Lusty Heart" (3 lines).
At upper left, below the YMCA logo "Held until safe arrival / of steamer. Then mailed. / Censor" is stamped in purple ink.
THIS IS A 1917 "SAFE ARRIVAL" (OVERSEAS) CARD USED AFTER THE SOLDIER RETURNED HOME IN 1919. Soldier's mail was always carried free of postage when mailed aboard home-bound troop ships, or at the dock after arrival. If mailed later, it was subject to the prevailing 2¢ postal rate for US mail. The card is franked with a 1¢ green Washington booklet pair, tied by the same undated 3-line "Soldier's Mail / Mail Censor / U.S. Army Base" post mark in purple ink as (3) above.
Condition: fine card; normal edge wear and blunt corner, specially on picture side; reverse side is very clean with NO blemishes; rare post card.
Both cards (3) and (4) above are written in pencil by Pvt. Clarence B Larson of Battery B, 49th Artillery, and addressed his Mother, Mrs A G Larson, of Deersfield, Wisconsin. The postage was charged as the card was mailed from Camp Stemmet, Virginia, and not from the port of disembarkation, where it would have been sent free of postage.
YOU NEED THESE POSTCARDS FOR YOUR U.S. MILITARY / NAVAL / WWI / YMCA / RED CROSS / POSTAL HISTORY COLLECTION
Fine to excellent condition - highly collectable - RARE VINTAGE POST CARD
SHIPPED IN A TOUGH, CLEAR,POSTCARD HOLDER
PLEASE NOTE SHIPPING RECOMMENDATIONS
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→ SCANNED IMAGES ARE PART OF THE DESCRIPTION ←
→ VINTAGE POSTCARDS HAVE FAULTS WHICH MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS OR DESCRIBED ←
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Any yellow, light brown, or lemon-color areas are from my scanner unless described as "FOXING" or 'YELLOWING". Postcard is FULLY described. Any silver or white vertical lines are likewise from my scanner or from clear plastic coverings. Small faults occur on VINTAGE POSTCARDS. Thank you.
VERY SCARCE vintage postcard in very fine condition !! Stored smoke-free. WE COMBINE SHIPPING FOR MULTIPLE PURCHASES.
KINDLY NOTE
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