Humorous Postcard, Printed in Germany, 1909, Chicago Postmark

This is a divided back postcard, printed in Germany, featuring a humorous illustration of a man with a stern expression, accompanied by the text, "You can tell a married man by the smile he don't wear." The artwork is rendered in a monochromatic style with a focus on the man's exaggerated features, typical of early 20th-century humor.

The back of the postcard is postmarked from Chicago, Illinois, dated July 12, 1909, and addressed to Mrs. Bertha Mengabauer in Wessington, South Dakota. It bears a one-cent green U.S. postage stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin. The message reads: "Friend Bertha, I got to Chicago all right and thought I’d drop you a postcard and am pretty near tired out. I will send you another in Milwaukee so goodbye, Edna S. Y. Hill Partch."

This postcard documents early 20th-century social customs and communication patterns, reflecting the humor and artistic style of the era. Surviving examples provide valuable insights into the cultural and social dynamics of the time, as well as the personal connections maintained through postcards.