Hand-drawn ink portrait of a woman in a plumed hat, circa 1905

Subjects: Portraits Women's History
Card type: Government postal card
Date: c. 1901 (Early)

Back of Hand-drawn ink portrait of a woman in a plumed hat, circa 1905, Mrs. H. J. Duesenberry, USA, c. 1901 postal card postcard — Back

About this postcard

A pen-and-ink drawing on a plain card shows a young woman in a wide, heavily plumed hat with a high lace collar and dark jacket, drawn in bold hatched strokes. The card is headed "My Latest Photo" in the same brown ink, and a chatty note below jokes that the sender was asked for a picture and this sketch is the answer. Such hand-drawn comic self-portraits were a common way of replying to a request for a photograph in the early 1900s, when picture postcards were the everyday medium of correspondence.

Postcard Details

Message · English, in pen

My Latest Portrait Don't think its your fault cause its my own coloring, the blame for that Don't you know? how you always wanted a picture, so now how is this. Frances.

PostmarkedMilwaukee, WI, September 10, 1908, 10:30

Addressed to

Mrs. H. J. Duesenberry

141-6 St., South Bend

Postcard record

Postmarked	September 10, 1908, 10:30, Milwaukee, WI
Condition	Fair
Place addressed	Mrs. H. J. Duesenberry, 141-6 St., South Bend
Stamp	1c William McKinley, black and beige, issued 1901
Notes	Original hand-drawn ink sketch on card stock, not a printed image; heavy overall toning, diagonal crease at upper right, worn corners, and a small stain at left. Postmark: MILWAUKEE, WIS SEP 10 10:30 AM 1908. Undivided-back government postal card with imprinted McKinley 1¢ stamp; card toned, corner creases, minor stains.

Cite this card

Hand-drawn ink portrait of a woman in a plumed hat, circa 1905, postcard, c. 1901. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/hand-drawn-ink-portrait-of-a-woman-in-a-plumed-hat-circa-190. Accessed October 24, 2026.