The Legend of the Dogwood, dogwood blossom border, circa 1940

Subjects: Christianity Religious & Devotional Life
Card type: Linen
Date: c. 1930 (White Border)

Back of The Legend of the Dogwood, dogwood blossom border, circa 1940, Asheville Post Card Co., NC, USA, c. 1930 linen postcard — Back

About this postcard

A border of white and blue-tinted dogwood blossoms frames a panel of text retelling the popular Christian folk legend of the dogwood: the tree once grew as large as the oak, was chosen as the timber of the Crucifixion, and was afterward made slender, bent, and twisted. Its blossoms were to take the form of a cross, with two long and two short petals, nail prints at the petal edges, and a crown of thorns at the center. The legend is a widely circulated piece of American devotional folklore rather than an ancient tradition, and it turns the dogwood's four petal-like bracts and tight center cluster into a reminder of the Crucifixion. Cards like this were popular inspirational novelties in the mid-20th century.

Postcard Details

Message

No message detected

PublisherAsheville Post Card Co.

The Legend of the DOGWOOD THERE is a legend, that at the time of the Crucifixion the dogwood had been the size of the oak and other forest trees. So firm and strong was the tree that it was chosen as the timber for the cross. To be used thus for such a cruel purpose greatly distressed the tree, and Jesus, nailed upon it, sensed this, and in His gentle pity for all sorrow and suffering said to it: "Because of your regret and pity for My suffering, never again shall the dogwood tree grow large enough to be used as a cross. Henceforth it shall be slender and bent and twisted and its blossoms shall be in the form of a cross....two long and two short petals. And in the center of the outer edge of each petal there will be nail prints, brown with rust and stained with red, and in the center of the flower will be a crown of thorns, and all who see it will remember....

Addressed to

ASHEVILLE POST CARD CO.

ASHEVILLE, N. C.

Postcard record

Publisher	Asheville Post Card Co.
Series	E-6276 N-660
Condition	Very good
Publisher	Asheville Post Card Co., Asheville, NC
Notes	Linen-textured stock; scan is rotated 90 degrees. Small printed series numbers "E-6276" and "N-660"; "Design Copyrighted ©" notice at lower left of the text panel. Faint pencil dealer marks "15" at top left and "60" at top right. No postmark — unused card. Divided-back linen-era card (c. 1930s–40s) with Asheville Post Card Co. imprint; light foxing/spotting on the back, no handwriting.

Cite this card

The Legend of the Dogwood, dogwood blossom border, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/the-legend-of-the-dogwood-dogwood-blossom-border-circa-1940. Accessed November 2, 2026.