Lot #787: Vintage 1912 Pennsylvania USA Postcard - Mountain Trail and Lake - "Schlesinger Bros., New York" - Hand-Coloured - USA 1¢ "G.Washington" Stamp

One Vintage 1912 Pennsylvania USA Postcard, used, showing a mountain trail and a lake. This finely-engraved and hand-coloured postcard indicates "Published by Schlesinger Bros., New York" with three tulips, and has a divided back. (The "M Co." logo with three tulips identifies the publisher as the M. Mark Company, a firm that specialized in high-contrast lithography during the early 20th century.) Includes One Green USA One-Cent "George Washington" Stamp. Postmarked Aug 1912 at Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA. Addressed to "Mr. Edw. W. Kneezel, #145 Congress St. E., Detroit, Michigan" Ink message in bold hand refers to a previous postcard received: "Receiving your post card of the Fire Dept. I thank you, and assure you of my extreme pleasure". The message also includes a fascinating post script to this postcard being sent: "Hand-painted by myself with colours." This postcard is a fascinating hybrid of mass production and vernacular artistry, providing a rare glimpse into the "Postcard Exchange" culture of the early 20th century. While the card is a standard Schlesinger Bros. publication, its value is significantly elevated by the sender's claim of personal modification. The Publisher Schlesinger Bros. was known for their high-quality steel-plate engravings. These provided a crisp, black-and-white or sepia base image that was perfectly suited for coloring—either at the factory or, as in this case, by the consumer. The most significant aspect of this card is the sender's note: "Hand-painted by myself with colours." During the Golden Age of postcards (1907–1915), it was a popular hobby for collectors to buy "uncoloured" or "black-and-white" cards and tint them using watercolors or specialized "tinting pens" to create a personalized souvenir. Because the sender explicitly states they painted it, this card is no longer just a mass-produced item; it is a unique piece of folk art. The "hand-coloured" look features slightly irregular edges or unique shades that wouldn't appear on a factory-produced chromolithograph. The message reveals a formal postcard etiquette of the time. The sender is reciprocating a "Fire Dept." postcard, a popular category of Topographical/City History cards. The Recipient Edward W. Kneezel lived at 145 Congress St. E. in Detroit. In 1912, this address was in the heart of Detroit’s burgeoning commercial and residential district, just as the city was transforming into the "Motor City." Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}