1907 Firecracker Fun

his charming 1907 postcard features a delightful scene of a little boy in breeches preparing to light a firecracker, while a little girl stands beside him, covering her ears in anticipation. The quote, “A sadder and a wiser man, He rose the morrow morn,” from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner,” adds a touch of literary elegance.

Handmade by the renowned artist R. L. Wells, this postcard is a fine example of his signature red and black woodblock prints. Unlike the mass-produced cards of the era, Wells’ creations are distinguished by their graphic quality and use of 17th-century quotations. This collectible piece is a must-have for enthusiasts of vintage postcards and early 20th-century American folk art.