Turpentine industry in the South — collecting gum from pine trees, circa 1940
- Card type
- Linen
About this postcard
A stand of tall longleaf pines with V-shaped boxes and cups cut into the trunks, where workers are gathering crude gum (oleoresin) for the naval stores trade; a horse-drawn wagon loaded with barrels stands on the sandy track and a mounted rider watches. The card's own caption names the scene "Turpentine Industry in the South—Collecting Gum from Pine Trees." Gum dipping and chipping of southern pines was a major seasonal industry from the colonial era into the 20th century, producing turpentine and rosin, and the photograph was supplied by the U.S. Forest Service.
Postcard Details
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Postcard record
| Publisher | Asheville Post Card Co. |
|---|---|
| Series | KD-504 |
| Condition | Very good |
| Publisher | The Asheville Post Card Co., Asheville, NC |
| Notes | White border; visible linen/canvas texture in the sky and foliage; caption and photo credit printed in the margins. No postmark; unused card. Divided-back linen-era card with white border, publisher imprint on the back, no handwriting or damage beyond light toning. |
Cite this card
Turpentine industry in the South — collecting gum from pine trees, circa 1940, postcard, c. 1930. PostalPast Collection. https://postalpast.com/postcard/turpentine-industry-in-the-south-collecting-gum-from-pine-tr-5. Accessed October 25, 2026.