Posted 11 years ago
vetraio50
(756 items)
I need some help with this postcard. It comes from a collection of over 340 cards that I recently bought here in Sydney. They were all unused except for one card that had been mailed to Septimus Miller of Caulfield, Melbourne in 1906.
With that information I was able to find out that Septimus and his wife Clara Johnstone Bell left on a world tour in 1906 after his retirement from the Victorian Racing Club. He was a "racing identity". On the world trip he visited racing clubs around the globe and his journey is well documented in the newspapers of his time.
He was in New York in September, 1906 and visited the Coney Island Jockey Club. This is the first of the cards that I will post from their trip.
United States & Italian Flags c. 1906
Souvenir Postcard Co NY - undivided back postcard with embossed image of two flags:
The Stars and Stripes and the Flag of the Kingdom of Italy above the coat of arms of the United States of America.
Postcard unused.
Small edge wear, embossed, printed and gilded
Circa: 1906
Condition: Unused
Publisher: Souvenir Postcard Co NY
What I have noted so far is that the card has the 45 star flag – used as the national flag from January 4, 1896 when Utah joined the Union until Oklahoma became the 46th state on November 16, 1907.
The Italian Flag is the Bandiera Nazionale del Regno d'Italia e dell'Impero Italiano. (National flag of the Kingdom of Italy and the Italian Empire). This Italian tricolour, with the armorial bearings of the former Royal House of Savoy was the first national flag from 1861 and lasted in that form for 85 years until the birth of the Italian Republic in 1946.
I suppose the question is WHY?
What happened in 1906 that linked Italy and the USA of note?
The earthquake in San Francisco of April 18 was preceded 11 days earlier by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius on April 7 that virtually devastated the city of Naples, Italy. Could that be it?
Why the use of the Coat of Arms of the United States of America?
I note that there are only nine arrows? A mistake?
Many thanks KERRY10456 'n AGHCOLLECT too!
Many thanks NADIA!
Beautiful post card and History!!
Many thanks SEAN!
Your very welcome Kevin!!
Kevin maybe just because this was about the peak of the Italian diaspora? And most of the millions who left Italy as a result of unification went to the US.
Maybe that was enough to form the association - after all many Italians still in the unified Italy would have known about the States and knew people who had moved there.
Looking forward to seeing some more cards!
Karen
Many thanks KAZZA!
I agree about the diaspora.
An early form of multiculturalism?
Thanks too to DON, MIKELV 'n HORNET!
Come va, Hornet?
Non ti ho sentito da tanto!
Many thanks to JARROD, TONINO, TEDSTRAUB, ANTIQUESINNJ, AIMATHENA, GEO, PHIL 'n BLUNDERBUSS too!
In reply to that question I really have no idea, mate. The used cards in my mind have a different value and interest to an unused card. They lack the stamp which can be interesting to the the philatelists and the lack context too. But I know that there are card collectors who are very interested in mint copies.
I'm interested in other comments on that topic too!
This card is part of a series available in the U S. I found similar ones with flags of Germany, Sweden, Australia, France, Italian Army & Texas, in place of the Italian Flag.
A great card for it's age!
Many thanks WALKSOFTLY.
I did see one with the US & Irish flags too.
You're most welcome.
Another thought I had concerned a card I have from the Great White Fleet. It was issued by Australia Post (of those days). It is one that has a value depending on the date when it was posted. The most valuable card is the one posted first. People are trying to find one posted earlier than the one currently known to be the earliest.
The card is seen as a stamp.
The collectibility of these cards is described here:
http://www.philatelicdatabase.com/united-states/american-fleet-postcards-of-1908/
It's pretty complex! But that is Philately!
You're welcome, mate! I am learning too! These cards are a new area for me too. They all have a certain amount of interest.
Many thanks MIKELV!
Many thanks ANTIQUESINNJ!
Many thanks PWCOLLECTOR!
Many thanks TOM!
Many thanks everyone: GARY'n AIMATHENA too!
Many thanks NORDICMAN!
Many thanks PETEY!
Many thanks BRATJDD!
Many thanks BRUNSWICK !!!!!!
Many thanks NEWFLD !.!!.!!!.!!.!
Many thanks WELZEBUB !!.!!.!!