MORRIS BLINN'S STORE
Bucks County postcard collectors have long noted a small number of postcards from Yardley dated about 1909 to 1914, and identified by the imprint "Published by Morris Blinn. Printed in Germany." These are quality cards in pleasant natural colors, but little more was known. While searching for Craven real photo cards, we simultaneously were able to build a very small collection of Blinn cards. Message side of postcard named Main Street Looking South Over time we discovered this curious set of Blinn cards were without exception, printed versions of earlier Craven views. Since Craven was alive and well at that time, we wondered exactly what the connection was. The answer came when we found a certain real photo Craven view Blinn's Corner (cropped from postcard named Main Street Looking South) which answered most of our questions. The card we refer to shows Main Street Looking South from the traffic light. The card on the front (the picture side) is identified "Yardley, Pa." and on the rear (the message side) is postmarked Aug 30, 1910. This part of the card was enlarged

The message says "Card Bought at 44." Upon close examination with a magnifying glass, we found that the sign with the number "44" was that of Morris Blinn and was posted on the outside sidewall of his store. Thanks to the recipient, Mrs. S.A. Dilks, who in 1914 saved the card and thanks also to the message of the observant but unknown writer, we now know Morris Blinn was a distributor of Craven real photo postcards. The postmarks on all the cards found so date between 1909 and 1914, whereas Photographer Craven died unexpectedly in 1915. Therefore, putting it all together, it appears Mr. Craven gave his permission for the publishing of the cards by Mr. Blinn.

So far we have found a total of 5 views on 3 1/4" by 5 1/2" postcard size, and there are an additional 6 views, arranged as 3 vignettes on each of two postcards. The earliest card #1042 is postmarked Aug 30, 1909. The rest of the cards are numbered 1234, 1236, 1238, 1239, 1240 (combined vignettes), 1241 (combined vignettes) and all postmarked 1914.

Cards Published by Morris Blinn    (As Authorized by Linford R. Craven)

Craven's Yardley Site   (Photographs, Maps, History/Geography, Craven Biography)