Date of use : 1900 USA

"Wait Till the Sun Shines Nellie" Tammen Postcard – USA

This document is an illustrated humorous postcard belonging to the early twentieth-century American postcard tradition. The front of the card depicts a photographer attempting to photograph a seated female subject using a large bellows camera mounted on a tripod. Beneath the image appears the caption "Wait 'Till the Sun Shines Nellie," which functions both as a humorous commentary on the scene and as a cultural reference to a popular song widely known in the United States during the early twentieth century. The use of this phrase connects the visual theme of photography with contemporary popular music culture.

In the lower left corner of the illustration appears the inscription "Copyright by S. Tammen, Denver." This indicates that the design or publication rights of the postcard were held by the Denver-based publisher S. Tammen. Samuel C. Tammen was a notable postcard publisher active in Denver during the early twentieth century. His company, commonly known as the Tammen Curio Company, produced a wide range of postcards, including humorous illustrations and views associated with the American West. The postcard can therefore be understood as part of a broader commercial distribution network operated by this publishing company.

The visual composition of the card also reflects photographic technology of the period. The camera depicted in the illustration resembles a large-format bellows camera, which was commonly used in both studio and outdoor photography during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Such cameras were typically mounted on tripods and often used glass plate negatives. Because exposure times were longer than those of modern cameras, strong sunlight or well-lit environments were usually required for successful photographs. The caption referring to waiting for the sun to shine can therefore be interpreted as a humorous reference to the technical limitations of early photographic practice.

On the reverse side the postcard bears a United States one-cent postage stamp. During the early twentieth century a one-cent stamp corresponded to one of the standard postage rates used for postcards within the United States. The stamp features the portrait of Benjamin Franklin, whose image appeared on several long-running American stamp designs. The postal cancellation indicates that the postcard was processed through the Salt Lake City postal system.

The postcard is addressed to Mrs. Alice Cornelius in Pleasant Hill, Lane County, Oregon. This indicates that the card was sent within the western United States, reflecting the extensive domestic communication networks facilitated by the American postal service during this period.

The handwritten message on the reverse side provides a glimpse into everyday personal communication. The sender writes to a family member, addressing the message to "Dear Mother" and commenting on household circumstances and local conditions. Such messages illustrate that postcards were widely used not only as souvenirs or collectible objects but also as a practical medium for informal correspondence.

The visual style of the postcard also reflects contemporary printing practices. The colored illustration was likely produced using lithographic or chromolithographic techniques, which were commonly employed in postcard printing during the early twentieth century. These methods allowed publishers to reproduce colorful and detailed illustrations, particularly suited to humorous or narrative scenes.

From a collecting perspective this postcard may be associated with several thematic categories. It is especially relevant for collections focused on photography-themed postcards, cultural representations of photographic technology, and humorous illustrated postcards. It also holds significance for collectors interested in American postcard publishing, Tammen postcard production, early twentieth-century popular culture, and United States postal history.

In conclusion, this postcard represents a small yet meaningful artifact of early twentieth-century American visual culture. The depiction of photographic practice within a humorous illustrated scene reflects how photography had become integrated into everyday life and popular imagination. At the same time, the use of the postcard for personal communication highlights the close relationship between visual media and social interaction during this period. Such documents therefore provide valuable historical insight into the cultural environment in which photographic technology developed and circulated.

This item is documented as part of the Photography in Postal History research project.
For research context, see the Research Methodology.
For academic reference, please refer to How to Cite This Archive.