July
Well, it is far from the noblest display of patriotism but there was across-the-board hatred for all things German here in 1919.
I am pretty sure this card was made in the US!
It is postally used, postmarked July 5, 2PM, 1919 in Bellville, Ohio, and has a one cent George Washington stamp. In very good condition, it is addressed in pencil to Mrs. C.D. Pifer, 327 E. 9th, Ashland, Ohio.
The message on the back is surprisingly benign considering the flip side of the card. "Dear Mother, We arrived all O.K. but I forgot to put paraffin on my jelly and it is in the kitchen cabinet will you do it for me. The girls wanted Grandma [ ]*, Blanche.
* I've tried hard but cannot make out Blanche's last word or words.
Dachshunds, a popular breed in the States prior to WWI, were commonly called "liberty dogs" when the war began, just as German Shepherds became "Alsations." I've read that the American Kennel Club officially changed the name Dachshund to Badger Dog for a short time but I have not verified this.
There's much to be found on the internet about the anti-German sentiment of that era. One interesting document gives a detailed snapshot of what took place in Davenport, Iowa.
I have an estimated half-dozen postcards of similar theme which I'll post from time to time - but not too often!
June
As were the majority of postcards in the "postcard era", this one was made in Germany.
You cannot really tell from the scan but this artfully done card contains fine embossing in the dogs' heads, eyes, ears, and coat.
Postally used, it is postmarked June 21, 1909 in Ocean Grove, NJ, and carries a one cent Benjamin Franklin stamp.
Addressed to "Master Otto Hertwig, 47 N. 10th St, Reading Pa", it contains the message "Many happy returns of the day," signed M.L.Dick. It is in great condition for a card that was mailed 101 years ago!
May
This outstanding postcard was printed very early in the last century in Russia. It was not postally used.
The talented artist was J. Schmitzberger who was probably German. The title of the work is "Standlaut." It depicts a German Shorthaired Pointer barking to direct the hunter to the location of the downed deer.
This card is the only place that I have seen the term "standlaut." I have always seen this barking to bring the hunter referred to as "totverbellen" before. Dachshunds were also sometimes trained to do this, though the larger dog's stronger voice was likely better heard from a distance.
It was common for a German hunter to own both a pointer and a dachshund to assist him in his tasks afield. Someone may correct me but I am not aware that hunters commonly own both large and small hunting dogs today.
Again, this is a fabulous work of art typical of the postcard era of 1900 to 1920. It is one example of why I thoroughly enjoy antique postcards.
