Much as I love collecting old tea room postcards, my vintage holiday postcards are actually some of the ones I treasure most. One of my favorite Thanksgiving postcards is this Ellen Clapsaddle card featuring a turkey, the words "A Glad Thanksgiving," assorted serving pieces and a sweet little row of teacups up top.
Another Ellen Clapsaddle design features a different style of turkey, the words "Greetings for Thanksgiving Day," and a napkin along with some flowers and a teacup and saucer. I love the simplicity of this design.
My third Ellen Clapsaddle Thanksgiving postcard says "Welcome Thanksgiving." It bears the image of a pie-making lass who happens to have what looks like a Blue Willow teapot in the background. So who IS Ellen Clapsaddle? According to Wikipedia, Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle (1865-1934) was an American illustrator and commercial artist in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and "today she is recognized as the most prolific souvenir/postcard and greeting card artist of her era." It is estimated that she created over 3,000 signed designs, which I find amazing. I love to read those Wikipedia articles in which some reader has disputed information in the article. On the Ellen Clapsaddle page, it says two of her designs were accepted by a publishing company in New York and became "an immediate success." Someone inserted a comment that says, "BALONEY--Art postcards weren't invented as a publication form in the time period referred to here." That made me smile! So whether Clapsaddle's postcards were "an immediate success" or not, I feel quite safe in saying they are some lovely pieces of artwork that collectors are still enjoying today.
