Set of seven vintage Sunbonnet Babies Days of the Week postcards 1905-1906 USA For Sale

The image features a set of seven vintageSunbonnet Babies"Days of the Week" postcards, which are highly collectible pieces of Americana. These specific postcards were originally published byThe Ullman Manufacturing Co.around 1905-1906.Each postcard depicts a girl in a signature red dress and large white bonnet performing a chore associated with a different day of the week:

• Monday:Washing clothes in a tub and hanging them on a line.
• Tuesday:Ironing clothes.
• Wednesday:Mending or sewing.
• Thursday:Baking, often shown rolling out dough.
• Friday:Sweeping with a broom.
• Saturday:Marketing or shopping, often carrying a basket of vegetables.
• Sunday:Resting or going to church, frequently shown with a pink parasol.

History and ValueThese illustrations were created based on the work ofBertha Corbett Melcher, who popularized the character known as "Sunbonnet Sue" or "Sunbonnet Baby" in the early 1900s. The set in your image appears to be in its original antique wooden frames, which can add significant value to collectors of "folk art" or early 20th-century ephemera.The back of your frames provides some great clues about theirageandauthenticity. Looking at the materials and construction, these appear to be genuine antique frames from the early20th century(circa 1905–1915).Here is a breakdown of what the details on the back tell us:Age and Construction

• Original Paper Backing:The brittle, browned paper (often calleddust covers) is typical for items framed over 100 years ago. The tearing and "foxing" (brown spotting) are natural signs of age.
• Hanging Hardware:The small metal eyelets at the top were common for lightweight frames of that era.
• Frame Tabs:In the top-left frame, you can see small metalglazier's pointsor nails holding the backing in place. This manual method was standard before modern framing tools.

What This Means for Value

• Originality:Having the original backing and frames significantly helps the value. Collectors ofSunbonnet Babiesoften prefer items in their "as-found" historical state rather than being re-framed.
• Postcard Condition:Because the paper is torn on some, you might be able to peek inside. If you see theUllman Manufacturing Co.logo or a postmark from the early 1900s, it confirms they are original lithograph postcards and not later reproductions.
• Preservation Tip:While the age is charming, the old wood and paper are likelyacidic, which can cause the postcards to yellow over time. If you plan to keep them for many years, a professional framer could add acid-free barriers without changing the outward look.

The Ullman Manufacturing Co.was a prominent American companybased inNew York City.Founded around 1888 by Nathan, Max, Louis, and Isidor Ullman along with Mark Stiles, it was a major publisher during the "Golden Age" of postcards (roughly 1900–1915).Key Locations

• Manhattan:The company's original offices and production facilities were located at338 East 59th Streetin Manhattan.
• Brooklyn:They also operated a factory in Brooklyn at319 McKibben Street.

Business and LegacyThe company specialized in high-quality, affordable lithographic prints and postcards designed for middle-class homes. Beyond the famousSunbonnet Babiesseries, they produced a wide variety of theater posters, books, jigsaw puzzles, and framed art reproductions.Interestingly, there is a modern-day American company calledUllman Devices(founded in Manhattan in 1935 and now based in Connecticut) that manufactures specialty tools. While the names are very similar, they are separate businesses from the original lithograph and postcard company that made your frames.The primary artist responsible for creating theSunbonnet Babiescharacters isBertha Corbett Melcher(1872–1950).She was a commercial illustrator from Denver who began drawing these iconic, faceless children in 1897. Interestingly, her signature style of hiding the babies' faces under large sunbonnets was born out of a challenge from a friend to "convey emotion without a face."The "Mother of the Sunbonnet Babies"Melcheris widely recognized as the creator who turned these simple sketches into a massive turn-of-the-century brand:

• The First Book:She published her first book,The Sun-Bonnet Babies, in 1900.
• Collaborations:She famously illustrated a series of primers written byEulalie Osgood Grover, starting withThe Sunbonnet Babies' Primerin 1902.
• The "Overall Boys":In 1905, she introduced a male counterpart to the babies called the "Overall Boys," which was also widely featured in books and postcards.

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