Mister Harrys

There is something undeniably magnetic about a vintage postcard that captures the raw energy of the shoreline before the era of high-rise condos and digital distractions. This latest addition to the collection is a stunning hand-colored lithograph from the early 20th century, and it’s a total standout.

What makes this specific card rare isn't just its age, but the panoramic perspective of the shoreline. Most postcards of this era focused on static buildings, but this one captures the "Fishing Boat Landing." Because of the wide-angle framing, we get a rare look at the sheer scale of the crowds. These weren't just a few beachgoers; they were hundreds of people in full Victorian and Edwardian attire—suits, hats, and long dresses—standing right at the water's edge.

The importance of this card lies in the "human element." If you look closely, you can see the effort of the crew navigating the boat through the breakers. It reminds us that during this period, the ocean wasn't just for leisure—it was a workplace. The contrast between the rugged fishermen and the polished, well-dressed spectators creates a social snapshot that you just don't see in modern photography.

Beyond the boat, the backdrop is a love letter to East Coast seaside Victorian architecture. The silhouette of the spires and the sprawling boardwalk pavilions represent an era where buildings were designed to be as majestic as the sea itself. The intricate woodwork, the "Old Mill" in the distance, and the soaring heights of the nearby hotels showcase a time when craftsmanship was paramount. These structures weren't just buildings; they were ornate crown jewels of the Jersey Shore, designed to make every visitor feel like they had stepped into a high-society dream.

This postcard is more than just paper and ink—it’s a time machine back to the golden age of the American summer.

PLENTY of elbow room. Not one inch of waste space. No tortuous turns or angles. Center hall with great foyer means no cross traffic. Living room, dining room together are spacious. Two doors from dining room lead to breezeway and terrace. Picture window and fireplace, two perfect features in this handsome living room. L-shaped kitchen has dining alcove with door to terrace. Master bedroom has bath with dressing room and three large closets. Second bath, two bedrooms off hall.

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source: 53 house plans for 1953 by Rudolph A. Matern

Gemini AI Rendering

I am thrilled to announce that a very rare triple postcard from the Gilded Age has been added to the collection! While standard postcards from this era are beautiful, finding a "fold-out" or panoramic triple-view card in such preserved condition is a true rarity. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these were the "widescreen" experiences of their day, allowing visitors to capture the sheer scale of the coastline in a way a single 3.5x5 inch card never could.

This postcard is a time capsule. Because it spans three panels, we get a continuous, panoramic perspective of the Asbury Park Boardwalk as it stood in its prime. Looking closely, you can see the density of the crowds, the specific placement of the original wooden benches, and the massive pavilions that once defined the water’s edge. It provides a spatial context that single-view cards lack, showing exactly how the Fishing Pier interacted with the grand hotels and the shoreline.

There is something hauntingly beautiful about the Victorian architecture of the East Coast. These structures were built with a sense of "seaside whimsy"—massive wooden frames, ornate gingerbread trim, and sprawling verandas designed to catch the salt air. In this postcard, the buildings stand as monuments to a time when the Jersey Shore was the premier playground for the high-society elite. The contrast between the rigid, sophisticated lines of the architecture and the wild, organic movement of the Atlantic Ocean is perfectly captured in this lithographic print.

A PLAN THAT sheds light under the house. Conservatory type windows, terraced basement areaways bring sunshine and flowers into basement. No dark and musty corners. Size of house virtually doubled with dry, healthful, colorful play space, game rooms, hobby corners downstairs. Excellently planned house. Upstairs den off porch. Magnificent living room merging into dining room. Oversize kitchen. Three big bedrooms. Two baths. Walk-in closet.

GARDEN flows into basement when greenhouse style windows cover planted terraces like this. With a few structural changes, covered access stairs to outdoors could also serve as an escape hatch for atom bomb shelter.

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source: 53 house plans for 1953 by Rudolph A. Matern

Gemini AI Rendering

While most of you know me for my collection of mid-century Americana, I also love collecting illustrations, books, magazines, and postcards from the Gilded Age. There is a certain romanticism in the hand-colored lithographs of that era that digital photography just can't replicate.

This particular find is a stunning vintage postcard of Bethesda Terrace in Central Park. It captures the "heart of the park" during a time when it was the ultimate social stage for New Yorkers to see and be seen. Looking at those intricate grand staircases and the way the nature was meticulously sculpted to frame the architecture, you can really feel the ambition of 19th-century design.

Olmsted and Vaux designed the Terrace to be the only formal architectural setting in the entire park, intended to contrast with the rugged, "wild" nature of the surrounding landscapes. The Arcade underpass features a magnificent ceiling made of nearly 16,000 encaustic tiles from England's Minton Tile Company. It is the only place in the world where these specific tiles are used for a ceiling rather than a floor. You’ve likely seen this spot in dozens of films and TV shows, most notably in the final scenes of Angels in America, the whimsical musical numbers of Enchanted, and classics like Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. The "Angel of the Waters" statue atop the fountain was the only sculpture commissioned as part of the original park design. It commemorates the opening of the Croton Aqueduct in 1842, which finally brought fresh water to the city. If you look closely at the stone carvings on the side walls, they represent the four seasons and the various times of day, featuring birds, plants, and fruit.

STEP IN THROUGH the kitchen door for a cook’s tour. A sparkling square kitchen with exciting corner windows invites that “pause that refreshes.” To the left, a windowed, intimate dining alcove. Ahead, the more formal dining room. Walk through the ample foyer. Stop to note the floor-to-ceiling window opposite the fireplace in living room. Continue into the den — the high point of the tour: a barbecue, indoor-outdoor garden, window wall and covered porch beyond. Here the Cook becomes a Queen!