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Caricatured Black child with invitation, Newport News, VA, 1951

Subjects
African American HistoryChildrenComics & Humor
Card type
Linen
Date
c. 1951 (Chrome)
Front of Caricatured Black child with invitation, Newport News, VA, 1951, Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Smart, VA, USA, c. 1951 linen postcard
Front
Back of Caricatured Black child with invitation, Newport News, VA, 1951, Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Smart, VA, USA, c. 1951 linen postcard
Back

About this postcard

A caricatured Black child in a top hat sits on a pink-and-white cup, holding an oversized party invitation. The printed text reads "YOU'RE INVITED HERE FOR THE........ BIG BLOW OUT!" The blank in the invitation turns the card into a fill-in joke, with the sender supplying the occasion. The figure's formal top hat and the giant card play on party etiquette, while the exaggerated features belong to the racial caricature common in American comic postcards of the early and mid-20th century.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pencil

Newport News, Va. Well I found a real nice 4 Rm. apt. with a real nice box so you won't have to worry about little Lillian's milk. Be looking for you. Its 2 weeks from Sat. I'm going to be at Fort Eustis. Love Ruby 1129 - 24 St. Newport News Va.

PublisherTichnor Bros., Inc.
YOU'RE INVITED HERE FOR THE....... 119 PARTY INVITATION YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND A BIG BLOW-OUT TOMORROW NIGHT AT EIGHT. WE'LL BE HEARING FROM YOU -- I HOPE BIG BLOW OUT! WALT MUNSON --- THIS SPACE FOR WRITING MESSAGES POST CARD TICHNOR QUALITY VIEWS REG. U.S. PAT. OFF. MADE ONLY BY TICHNOR BROS., INC., BOSTON, MASS. 66258
PostmarkedNewport News, VA, April 2, 1951, 09:30
Stamp
Addressed to
Mr. & Mrs. J. E. Smart

430 Court mountain Ave RDF # 05 Lynchburg, VA

From1429 - 24th St., Newport News

Postcard record

Postmarked, Newport News, VA
PublisherTichnor Bros., Inc.
Series119
ConditionVery good
Place addressedMr. & Mrs. J. E. Smart, 430 Court mountain Ave, RDF # 05, Lynchburg, VA
PublisherTichnor Bros., Inc., Boston, MA
Place sent from1429 - 24th St., Newport News
Stamp1c George Washington, green, issued 1909
Stamp1c George Washington, green, issued 1938, perforated on all sides
NotesLinen texture visible; no white border; artist signed Walt Munson; card number 119. Postmark: NEWPORT NEWS VA. APR 2 9 30 AM 1951. Divided-back linen-texture Tichnor card; light edge wear, no stamp box marks.

Cite this card

Caricatured Black child with invitation, Newport News, VA, 1951, postcard, c. 1951. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/caricatured-black-child-with-invitation-newport-news-va-1951. Accessed November 2, 2026.