Tuesday, February 27, 2018

In which Greta complains about the high price of sending postcards


In 1960, my great-grandmother, Greta Miriam Chandler Adams, mailed this Scottish-themed postcard1 from Nordkapp, Norway, to my uncle (her grandson), who was spending the summer at a camp in Vermont.2

For context, keep in mind that Greta was an extensive world traveler, especially during the 1950s and 1960s. And, during her travels, she often mailed home to Pennsylvania clothes, souvenirs and other fine trinkets that she accumulated during her international shopping outings. (I've seen the receipts. She saved 'em.)

So, that said, here's her note to my uncle:
7/12/60
Air mail cards are 20¢. Reg. postage is 15¢. So not sending many cards further north we go, more expensive. Loved Edinburgh, it rained but I saw alot of historic bldgs on a sight-seeing trip abroad that night. Sun out 'til 11 p.m. last night. Pretty sight! I go to bed too late, not time to write much. Busy! Love, Grandma.
Twenty cents in 1960 would be about $1.68 today. So I'm not sure how much my great-grandmother actually saved during her travels by cutting corners on the sending of postcards.

Footnotes
1. This postcard of the pipe bands at Edinburgh Castle is an "Art Colour" card that was published by Valentin & Sons, Ltd., of Dundee and London.
2. Camp Norway, on Lake Fairlee in Ely, Vermont.


Day-After Addendum

This popped into my Twitter feed the day after this post, and it's too interesting not to share, especially given that I'm a weather nerd.

No comments:

Post a Comment