MN Large Letter
Deconstructed

The Minnesota Large Letter Postcard (0B-H1027) is comprised of images from other postcards.  These postcards were created the Curt Teich manufacturing company.
Click on the images below to learn more about each card.

Minnesota
Large Letter

Most Curt Teich postcards had an identifier like 0B-H1027 in the bottom right. The letter B means it was created in the decade of 194X and the 0 preceding it is the last digit of the year. By using this number we can find additional info about the postcard, as shown in the next image.

Production
Job Jacket
Envelope

The Newberry Library in Chicago maintains an archive of the Curt Teich company's production files. Each postcard had a job jacket envelope with additional materials and info about the production of the postcard.

Large Letter preliminary mockup

During production of the postcard, a preliminary design mockup was made. This was found inside the job jacket. Notice the white-out on the design and the additional text instructions.

Letter M

Minnesota State Capitol

This postcard of the state capitol building in St Paul is card 3A-H25 and was first made in 1933. 

Letter I

Cabin among the Northern Pines

This card is 8A-H1215 and was created in 1948. The text on the back refers to "the Northland" but does not say specifically where this is located.

1st Letter N

Minnehaha Falls

Minnehaha Falls had dozens of different postcards created over the decades. The trees and pattern in the water help identify that this is the card for the first letter N. This card is 3A-H28 from 1933. 

2nd Letter N

The New Clinic
Rochester, MN

There were many different styles of Rochester postcards that featured the clinic. This card, 4A-H380, was sometimes labeled as "The Clinic" and sometimes "The New Clinic." There is no further description on the back.

Letter E

Sugar Loaf Rock
Winona, MN

It was difficult to identify the card for the letter E, though once found it was readily apparent that it was the right card. Click the postcard image for more info.

Letter S

I could not locate any existing beach postcard that matches this. A librarian at the Newberry Library Curt Teich archive found a photo negative in the production file job jacket. 

Letter O

Giant Ore Docks
on Lake Superior

This postcard shows the ore docks in Two Harbors. This postcard is 107534-N. The card was created in 1925. 

Letter T

Ski Jumping in Northern Minnesota

This card, 7A-H1052, was created in 1937. Although the postcard itself does not provide the info, this ski jump was located in Chester Bowl in Duluth. 


Letter A

Silver Creek Cliff

Silver Creek Cliff is postcard 2A-H314, created in 1932. This letter was suggested on the production job jacket as being a "swell spot for a north shore scene of some kind."

Top Left Image

Paul Bunyan and Babe

A distinctive landmark, postcards of Paul Bunyan were popular and had several designs. This postcard is 0B-H662. The card was created in 1940. 

Top Right Image

Split Rock Lighthouse

Another iconic landmark is the Split Rock Lighthouse. There are numerous linen postcards, but this is the one that lines up the exact angle and colors. This is card 7A-H1072, was created in 1937.