"Hallowe'en Greeting," 1917

01

Artifact Overview

During the 1800s, Irish immigrants had a great influence on the celebration of Halloween in the United States. They substituted traditional lanterns carved from hollowed-out turnips with pumpkins, a squash native to America. This colorful postcard features these jack-o-lanterns, which had become the symbol of the American Halloween by the turn of the 20th century.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Postcard

Date Made

1917

Subject Date

1917

Creator Notes

Illustration by artist Ellen H. Clapsaddle; published by International Art Publishing Company of New York, New York and Berlin, Germany. Printed in Germany.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2010.56.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Embossing (Technique)

Color

Multicolored

Dimensions

Height: 5.5 in
Width: 3.5 in

Inscriptions

Printed on front above image: Ellen H. Clapsaddle Printed below image: Printed Only / Copyrighted By / The / Int'l / Art Pub. Co. 1917 Printed one each under each pumpkin head on left and right borders: Rich Man / Poor Man / Beggar Man / Thief / Doctor / Lawyer / Merchant / Chief Printed on upper left corner of address side: Series No. 1238 Printed upper left address side: International Art Publ. Co. / NEW YORK BERLIN / PRINTED IN GERMANY Handwritten in pencil on address side: Miss Ruth Fowler / N Fowler St / City