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1909 Antique Halloween Jack-O'-Lantern Balloon Postcard
Outstanding original Golden Age Halloween postcard featuring one of the most unusual and desirable early Halloween subjects: a smiling jack-o'-lantern-shaped hot air balloon floating through a blue night sky surrounded by gold stars.
The card bears the wonderful period greeting:"The Highest Expectations for Hallowe'en."
This design dates to 1909, was published by S. Garre and was printed in Germany. The design is attributed in the collector market to noted Golden Age postcard artist Ellen H. Clapsaddle.
- Date: 1909
- Holiday: Halloween / Hallowe'en
- Subject: Jack-O'-Lantern Hot Air Balloon
- Publisher: S. Garre
- Artist: Attributed to Ellen H. Clapsaddle
- Country: Printed in Germany
- Era: Divided Back / Golden Age of Postcards
- Postally Used: Yes
- Postmark: Lincoln, Nebraska – October 27, 1909
- Postage: Original 1-cent stamp remains attached
- Addressed To: Miss M. Cederdahl, Ceresco, Nebraska
Condition
Very good antique condition overall with strong color and excellent display appeal. Expected wear from age and postal use is present, including corner and edge wear, light surface marks and minor handling wear. The gold stars, lettering and border remain especially attractive.
The reverse is handwritten and postally used with the original stamp and a clear October 27, 1909 Lincoln, Nebraska cancellation — just four days before Halloween.
A particularly desirable early Halloween postcard combining classic jack-o'-lantern imagery with the fascinating early aviation and hot-air-balloon theme. This exact design is represented in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum's Krainik Ballooning Collection.
Please examine all photographs carefully for exact condition. Photographs show the actual postcard offered.
