"Curioser and Curioser Allhallowe'en Hallowe'en Greetings," 1907-1912

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

1907-1912

Creator Notes

Original artwork by Ellen Clapsaddle; printed by International Art Publishing Company, New York, New York and Berlin, Germany. Printed in Germany.

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2013.79.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Paper (Fiber product)

Technique

Printing (Process)
Embossing (Technique)

Color

Multicolored
Gold (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 3.5 in
Width: 5.375 in

Inscriptions

Facsimile of artist signature on lower left front corner: Ellen H. Clapsaddle Text on front: "Curioser and Curioser" / Allhallowe'en. (sic) / HALLOWE'EN / GREETING
"Curioser and Curioser Allhallowe'en Hallowe'en Greetings," 1907-1912