Vintage ephemera is one of my favorite things to shop for online, mainly because old postcards and other paper goods are easy to find, rather inexpensive, and they don't cost an arm and a leg to ship. This year, when gardening season hit I decided to begin a new collection, postcards of the tea gardens and tea houses of yesteryear! This first card, which was unused, reads, "The new Breakers Hotel tea garden at Palm Beach, Florida. Here, in society's latest afternoon rendezvous, young and old dance and sip, with the broad Atlantic for an immediate neighbor. Luxurious tropical vegetation lends gay beauty to the scene."
Now who wouldn't have enjoyed being invited to tea in this tea house on the Berwind Estate in Newport, Rhode Island? This card was mailed in 1942 and says, "Hello Tootsie. I am having a good time. Wish you were here too. I went swimming in the ocean, it's fun. Will be seeing you soon. Rita" Rita mailed the card to herself in Canada, so I'm guessing Tootsie was a family member back home.
Another unused card was this one, labeled "Tea Gardens and Auld Brig O'Doon, Ayr." That caught my eye because Ayr, Scotland and Newnan, Georgia are sister cities! But there's another reason this card is of interest. In the Robert Burns poem "Tam o' Shanter," Auld Brig O'Doon is the bridge where witches chased Tam and his horse. Who knows why the poem "Tam o' Shanter" is important in tea history? If you don't happen to know, I'll share the answer tomorrow!
Don't have a clue but loved the postcards!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you'll have fun adding to your newest collection!
ReplyDeleteGreat postcards. I LOVE antique postcards, and inherited a large collection from my grandmother....mostly late Victorian and early 1900s when she lived in England. I, too, am happy the blog apparently is finally fixed! What an ordeal! Thanks dear friend for your sweet comments!
ReplyDeleteRuth
You are amazing in your collections -- and more. Now we will all be on the lookout for this type of card for you.
ReplyDeleteI love these, too! AND they don't take up much space. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun collection. I collect old postcards and love them. I am always looking for tea related ones when I go to an antique sale, but never thought to look online. I also collect bookmarks for the same reason, they don't take up alot of space.
ReplyDeleteWe visited Ayr, Scotland in 1995 with our younger daughter and a high school age folk dance group. We had tea at a hotel there, and the group danced at a nearby castle.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to seeing more of your new collection.
ReplyDelete!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThat of a entertaining selection. My partner and i accumulate previous post cards and also love them. I will be usually searching for teas connected ones after i visit a traditional sale, yet i never thought to check online. I additionally gather social bookmarks for the same explanation, they just don't use up numerous space.
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Hello Angela! Love those postcards, The Breakers is still in business. Those vintage postcards are really neat - I have a few myself. Thanks for sharing, Joanie
ReplyDeleteLove your latest collection - all of your collections are so interesting and unique. Have fun and enjoy the hunt!
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