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Black bear cub in a tree, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, circa 1940

Subjects
National & State ParksWildlife
Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1930 (White Border)
Front of Black bear cub in a tree, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, circa 1940, c. 1930 linen postcard
Front
Back of Black bear cub in a tree, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, circa 1940, c. 1930 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

A black bear cub clings to the trunk of a large tree, peering around it toward the camera against a plain blue sky, captioned as "A Bear Cub in Tree in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park." The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, established in 1934 along the Tennessee–North Carolina line, became famous for its roadside black bears, which visitors fed and photographed from the 1930s onward. Such close-up novelty views of cubs were popular souvenir cards sold throughout the park region.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pen

Dear Elaine, We are in Canada among the apple & peach orchards. Having a very wonderful trip as you can see by this card of Niagara Falls. It has been raining here. Margt

PublisherAsheville Post Card Co.
G-223 A BEAR CUB IN TREE IN THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK THIS LITTLE FELLOW LOOKS AS IF HE WERE POSING FOR THE PICTURE --- THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES E-11342 PUBLISHED BY ASHEVILLE POST CARD CO., ASHEVILLE, N. C. POST CARD
PostmarkedSt. Thomas, Ontario, Canada, July 19, 1956
Stamp
Addressed to
Elaine Steele

217 Walnut St., Oconomowoc, WI

Postcard record

Postmarked, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada
PublisherAsheville Post Card Co.
SeriesG-223
ConditionVery good
Place addressedElaine Steele, 217 Walnut St., Oconomowoc, WI
Place depictedGreat Smoky Mountains National Park, TN
PublisherAsheville Post Card Co., Asheville, NC
Stamp2c Thomas Jefferson, red
NotesLinen-texture stock with visible crosshatch grain; image runs to the edges with no white border; printed card number G-223 at upper left; slight wear at lower right corner. Postmark: ST. THOMAS 22 19 VII 56 ONT. — divided-back linen-era card (1956) with blue-ink message; light edge/corner wear, small stain near stamp.

Cite this card

Black bear cub in a tree, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/black-bear-cub-in-a-tree-great-smoky-mountains-national-park-1930. Accessed October 24, 2026.