The card shows a close view of the stepped stone facade at Mitla, with bands of geometric greca fretwork in reddish and gray stone above a lower wall of rough masonry. Mitla was a major Zapotec ceremonial center in Oaxaca, and its buildings are known for these mosaic-like panels of cut stone fitted into repeating patterns. The name Mitla comes from Nahuatl and is often translated as place of the dead. By the early twentieth century, the ruins were among the antiquities drawing travelers and scholars to southern Mexico.
Image fills the card with no white border; fine halftone dot texture typical of early color-printed cards; small circular monogram device printed at left edge; light edge wear.
Divided-back Mexican 'República Mexicana / Tarjeta Postal' card, No. 301, captioned 'Ruinas de Mitla, Oaxaca, Mexico. / Mitla Ruins, Oaxaca, Mexico.', imprint 'Editor F. Martín, México, D.F.'; 4c red Mexico stamp (1934 issue inscribed 1910-1934) tied by a circular cancel, partly legible: 'CORRE / 3M / OFICINA IMPRESO[?]'. Pencil message written sideways along the left edge reads 'Hello / love from / Doctor'; addressed to John Arnold Boser, c/o Mrs Mamie Boser, Altavista, Virginia, USA. Dealer pencil marks '112' and '1.00' at top left. Light soiling/creasing.
Cite this card
Mitla Ruins, Oaxaca, Mexico, circa 1934, postcard, c. 1934. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/mitla-ruins-oaxaca-mexico-circa-1934. Accessed November 3, 2026.
