Bonnie Wilpon
States Poke Fun At Themselves
Through Postcards
Looking for a fun collection that won’t break the bank? Or something for your children to collect?
State humor postcards can be found in gas stations, airports and local shops, in addition to postcard shows
and on online collecting sites. While linen (1940s) and older cards can bepricier, modern chromes can easily be found for under $1.
Once you collect one from every state, try your hand at collecting local humor from cities, regions or different countries. You’ll be amazed at the wide variety, “good sport” mentality and plain old laugh-out-loud features of these postcards.
Some postcards make fun of the state itself—its weather, location or natural scenery. Many take jabs at the
stereotypical ways people from the area behave (or how outsiders think they do). Still others focus on the unique things about the state or its culture.
As someone who has lived in a few states, it’s fun to pull out my State Humor cards when telling folks about my experiences there. And, since I travel quite a bit for work, I enjoy passing the time in airports and shopping centers going “on the hunt” for them. Sometimes I even use them as ice breakers in my PowerPoint presentations when I’m in a particular part of the country.
Take yourself off to the postcard rack (or send the kids there) while you’re traveling on vacation. You’ll have inexpensive souvenirs, great “Wish You Were Here” cards to mail back home and the start of a collection that will bring back memories for years to come. Big-money value . . . not so much. Enjoyment . . . priceless!
Here are some of my favorites:
The North Carolina “outlet” care really made me laugh. The “Dela-Where?” card is a hoot. Thanks for sharing these.
Residents in the PNW often eliminate the “G” while pronouncing the state name. This sparkle adds to the creativity of the artist and educates the visitor to recognize and adapt to local slang.