1909 Close Up Color Photo Postcard of "Billy Possum" William H Taft's Namesake
In 1908, after GOP presidential candidate, William Howard Taft, partook of a meal in Atlanta, Georgia when served opossum with potatoes, Taft got nicknamed "Billy Possum", and dozens of creative postcards were produced during the campaign and even after he was elected. The cottage industry of Billy Possum toys, games and kids items was begun, too, with vendors trying to get over the potential loss of Teddy Bear revenue after Theodore Roosevelt left office, as if that could be stopped. After all, kids weren't dumb. It's a lot easier to cuddle up with a cute bear than an oversized rat. Many of you have seen the embossed, sepia set of four postcards cartoonist Fred Lounsbury did for the campaign, with golf, hunting and a TR bear saying hello, which are fairly common and can be readily found and bought. This standard sized postcard shows a baby possum in a color close-up; a baby a mother could love. Problem is there were likely seven others in the batch. It was printed by K. Cut in New York City and was postmarked from Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1910. We have several different varieties of these Billy Possum postcards in our eBay store for interested Taft, political and possum collectors. This in nice condition but please look at our images to judge this for yourself so you can be happy with your purchase. It has some edge wear and some ink on front from postal processing, so we've priced it accordingly. We are members of APIC and sell only authentic presidential (and other collectible) material so buy with confidence. And we'll be happy to combine S & H costs on multiple purchases even though eBay says we won't. We just issue you a refund for any overpayment. Shipping on this will be $5.50, carefully packed with tracking. 9116 We returned from the northeastern part of the U.S. where we purchased another top-notch political postcard collection from a life-long specialist and friend. PLUS, we're still selling out of the collection of our mid-west friend! Since many of their cards are duplicates of our own, we feel it is important to offer them back into the collector market, so that others continue having the fun of discovery and pride of ownership that we three have experienced over the decades. Hopefully you can find a gem or two to add to your own collection, so check our eBay store over time for this great opportunity for adding to your collection. Our collecting interests fall into all categories of presidential campaign material, but postcards remain at the top of the list. Like buttons, their graphics can be spectacular. But they have the added advantage of being able to contain a lot more of it with much more diverse art. They may relate to a specific person or event or articulate opposing campaign slogans. Many can be "mated-up" with an example for another candidate: the 1912 pennant cards have seemingly endless color combinations, images and slogans so you'll never have them all, which keeps your quest alive. Some have "coattails" and are geographically specific or contain "hopefuls" or are from a person's early career. One can simply collect their favorite candidate. In history, the 1908 election occurred at the height of the overall postcard craze by the public, so one can acquire a massive collection for that year alone. Cards can be one-of-a-kind real photos, printed photos or lithographs while others are part of a set. Some are cross-collectibles involving baseball, other sports, artists, causes or holidays. They can show one or more candidates - often even the opposing candidates - which one rarely finds on pins. Just remember this: if it doesn't have a printed place for a stamp and an address or wasn't machine-mailed like most modern examples, by definition it ISN'T a postcard. Having it used through the mail confirms its history (if you're worried about reproductions) and adds to its depth. Be aware that condition may be part of the mailing: it's important and can affect the value. But being obsessed and possessed like many button fanatics over obtaining perfect condition examples can be time wasted from the joy of collecting. Cards are much more personal than pins. You know they were handled, way back when, and are also meant to be today (using care). If folding or mechanical, they MUST be touched and worked to fully appreciate them. Many backs contain a political message or show a postmark nailing down a small town or date. Some show a particular moment in American history: a meeting of great individuals or the last days or hours of a person - often the president. Others then show the early days of his successor. Pins don't often show that. Many cards have anti-cartoons - their great, artwork barbs and blurbs are classic political fun; sarcastic, creative, witty and sometimes suggestive, as being rendered by the famous or not-so. Pro-examples can gush enthusiastically. Some reflect America's socially or racially questionable past from which we may learn. Others show an obscure candidate and were printed in rather limited numbers. Postcard evolution from the late 19th-century to the oversize mailers of today can be displayed in one tray. Can you tell we love 'em! Therefore, we're listing a broad selection to pique your interest and show what we mean about how great, diverse and wonderful these relatively affordable political collectibles are. Most of all, have fun with them. Postcards were meant to be FUN.
Specifications
| All Returns Accepted | ReturnsNotAccepted |
| President | William H. Taft |
| Type | postcard |
| Term In Office | 1909-13 |
| Year | 1909 |
| First Lady | Helen Taft |
| Theme | Politics |
| Material | paper or cardstock |
| Country/Region Of Manufacture | United States |
| Country/Region | United States |
In 1908, after GOP presidential candidate, William Howard Taft, partook of a meal in Atlanta, Georgia when served opossum with potatoes, Taft got nicknamed “Billy Possum”, and dozens of creative postcards were produced during the campaign and even after he was elected. The cottage industry of Billy Possum toys, games and kids items was begun, too, with vendors trying to get over the potential loss of Teddy Bear revenue after Theodore Roosevelt left office, as if that could be stopped. After all, kids weren’t dumb. It’s a lot easier to cuddle up with a cute bear than an oversized rat. Many of you have seen the embossed, sepia set of four postcards cartoonist Fred Lounsbury did for the campaign, with golf, hunting and a TR bear saying hello, which are fairly common and can be readily found and bought. This standard sized postcard shows a baby possum in a color close-up; a baby a mother could love. Problem is there were likely seven others in the batch. It was printed by K. Cut in New York City and was postmarked from Atlantic City, New Jersey in 1910. We have several different varieties of these Billy Possum postcards in our eBay store for interested Taft, political and possum collectors. This in nice condition but please look at our images to judge this for yourself so you can be happy with your purchase. It has some edge wear and some ink on front from postal processing, so we’ve priced it accordingly. We are members of APIC and sell only authentic presidential (and other collectible) material so buy with confidence. And we’ll be happy to combine S & H costs on multiple purchases even though eBay says we won’t. We just issue you a refund for any overpayment. Shipping on this will be $5.50, carefully packed with tracking. 9116 We returned from the northeastern part of the U.S. where we purchased another top-notch political postcard collection from a life-long specialist and friend. PLUS, we’re still selling out of the collection of our mid-west friend! Since many of their cards are duplicates of our own, we feel it is important to offer them back into the collector market, so that others continue having the fun of discovery and pride of ownership that we three have experienced over the decades. Hopefully you can find a gem or two to add to your own collection, so check our eBay store over time for this great opportunity for adding to your collection. Our collecting interests fall into all categories of presidential campaign material, but postcards remain at the top of the list. Like buttons, their graphics can be spectacular. But they have the added advantage of being able to contain a lot more of it with much more diverse art. They may relate to a specific person or event or articulate opposing campaign slogans. Many can be “mated-up” with an example for another candidate: the 1912 pennant cards have seemingly endless color combinations, images and slogans so you’ll never have them all, which keeps your quest alive. Some have “coattails” and are geographically specific or contain “hopefuls” or are from a person’s early career. One can simply collect their favorite candidate. In history, the 1908 election occurred at the height of the overall postcard craze by the public, so one can acquire a massive collection for that year alone. Cards can be one-of-a-kind real photos, printed photos or lithographs while others are part of a set. Some are cross-collectibles involving baseball, other sports, artists, causes or holidays. They can show one or more candidates – often even the opposing candidates – which one rarely finds on pins. Just remember this: if it doesn’t have a printed place for a stamp and an address or wasn’t machine-mailed like most modern examples, by definition it ISN’T a postcard. Having it used through the mail confirms its history (if you’re worried about reproductions) and adds to its depth. Be aware that condition may be part of the mailing: it’s important and can affect the value. But being obsessed and possessed like many button fanatics over obtaining perfect condition examples can be time wasted from the joy of collecting. Cards are much more personal than pins. You know they were handled, way back when, and are also meant to be today (using care). If folding or mechanical, they MUST be touched and worked to fully appreciate them. Many backs contain a political message or show a postmark nailing down a small town or date. Some show a particular moment in American history: a meeting of great individuals or the last days or hours of a person – often the president. Others then show the early days of his successor. Pins don’t often show that. Many cards have anti-cartoons – their great, artwork barbs and blurbs are classic political fun; sarcastic, creative, witty and sometimes suggestive, as being rendered by the famous or not-so. Pro-examples can gush enthusiastically. Some reflect America’s socially or racially questionable past from which we may learn. Others show an obscure candidate and were printed in rather limited numbers. Postcard evolution from the late 19th-century to the oversize mailers of today can be displayed in one tray. Can you tell we love ’em! Therefore, we’re listing a broad selection to pique your interest and show what we mean about how great, diverse and wonderful these relatively affordable political collectibles are. Most of all, have fun with them. Postcards were meant to be FUN.
