Up in the Air on the Fourth

Uncle Sam and two lovely ladies cruise serenely above the clouds — avoiding all those holiday traffic jams — in this patriotic postcard by the great postcard artist Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle (1865-1934), who had a real talent for holiday-themed airships. The postcard was mailed in July, 1910 by a woman named Rose of Charleston, West Virginia to her friend Emma in Homestead, Pennsylvania. “Dear Old Girlie,” she wrote, “Guess you will take your ‘4th’ swing in a porch swing instead of an air ship.” Hoping you'll have a festive Fourth, either aloft or earth-bound. I'll be sticking to my porch swing, myself.