Prater Collectibles

02/09/2025

Fantasy postcards are some of my favorites. From Mermaids to Monsters. This New Years card features a dwarf /gnome with a cool walking stick, pulling a wagon with a giant mushroom. This is a German postcard circa 1910.

01/30/2025

A very popular theme for postcard collectors are the Alligator Border view cards. These were heavy embossed with beautiful lithograph printing. To hold one of these fabulous cards is to understand why they are so loved. This particular card shows Beach Street at Daytona - Indian River Florida.

01/27/2025

Psychedelic art from the 1970's ???

Nope. This is a circa 1910 art nouveau postcard by the artist Gisbert Combaz. This is one of four element cards, this one representing air. Love the bright colors. Just sold this on eBay.

01/25/2025

This is Happy Jack, he was a side show performer billed as the "World's Prize Fat Man" at age 34 he weighed 739 pounds. He was a member of several fraternal organizations including Eld, Moose, and woodman. He was a member of the Elk Lodge 752 in Americus Georgia.

01/23/2025

Just sold this card on eBay. I think it's a great photograph and the history is interesting. At the turn of last century, cross country walking was very popular. This is Jack Williams and he was hiking from Philadelphia to Seattle. His hiking gear is minimal. His caption for this pic is funny, " Oh, how I wish I could ride". Lots of folks collect postcards of "walkers" and other cross country travelers. This is one of my favorites.

01/21/2025

Interesting postcard from early 1900's. Julian Eltinge was a famous female inpersonator on stage. He appeared across the US and Europe. He even designed his own brand of products including Cold Creme. I enjoyed reading about his life. Here's a wiki link but there are lots of other sites with even more information. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_Eltinge

01/21/2025

Vickie here, I'm back! Most of you know that I have not been listing cards on ebay for about three years now (George has but not me). Between closing the retail shop and battling cancer, I pretty much took time off to get well and to travel for fun. Alas, the time has come to get back to work. As you know, I list mostly the rarer and more specialized cards while George mostly lists view cards. I am also listing quite a few LOTS. Look for me to be more active on FB too. Don't forget, my ebay user and store name is shilohpostcards (George uses pratercollectibles).

We sell Antique Postcards and related items. We offer quality view cards, expos, topicals, holidays, real photograph and artist signed cards.

10/31/2023

07/26/2023

Thought I would share this interesting story about Neta. I first learned about her when researching the pioneer aviator autograph collection I got from my dad. There is something special about holding a piece of paper signed by historical heroes. It makes the stories tangible. I especially like it when it's a woman changing the world doing what she loves. - Vickie

Introducing Iowa’s first female aviator, Amelia Earhart's flight instructor, and the first woman to run a commercial airfield, Mary Anita "Neta" Snook Southern.

Neta, known as “Snooky” to her friends, was born on February 14th, 1896, in Mount Carroll, Illinois. From an early age, Neta was interested in machinery, built from her interest with her father’s automobiles. After graduating high school, Neta attended Iowa State College, taking classes in mechanical drawing, machines, and farm machinery repair. Later she became fascinated with literature related to aviation and soon wanted to take over the sky.

In 1917, Neta entered Curtiss-Wright Aviation School and dedicated herself to flying. For the next few years, Neta continued her work as an aviator, traveling and working on different jobs and projects. In 1918, she worked for the British Air Ministry, where she inspected and tested aircraft parts and engines. In 1920, Neta received her pilot’s license and, shortly after, began as a pilot instructor in the newly constructed airport, Kinner Field, in Los Angeles.

During her career as an aviator, Neta held many accomplishments. She was the teacher, mentor, and friend of the famous aviator Amelia Earhart. Even lectured and spoke about Amelia’s career following her disappearance, later writing the autobiography, “I Taught Amelia to Fly” in 1977. Neta was the first woman to enter a men’s air race at the Los Angeles Speedway in 1921. After finishing fifth place, Neta told the media, “I'm going to fly as cleverly, audaciously, and thrillingly as any man aviator in the world.

Neta passed away in 1991 at age 95 but lived a long life alongside her husband and son. She raised horses, among other activities, at her ranch in California and has since been inducted into the Iowa Aviation Hall of Fame.

The WASP Legacy Campaign is our most ambitious fundraising campaign to date. With a goal of $100k by the end of July 2023, we will be able to work with our writer, advisors, and editor to finish a rough cut of the film. Be a part of preserving this important and often forgotten history of our early female aviators. bit.ly/WASPLegacyCampaign

Women in Aviation International

06/14/2023

Sidney Lanier Prater 2005-2023 - Ambassador for Prater Books and Prater Collectibles for 18 years. Sidney passed away last night at home in George's arms. He was the best cat in the world. He used to greet all customers at the front door and those who proclaimed "I don't like cats" he made it his mission to follow them until they relented and petted him. Duty done he would go to a favorite chair to nap. The past few years as he got older he stayed behind the counter but would go to the gate for people to love on. His picture was shared around the world as selfies were took with him. Most know the story about how as a kitten Sidney walked in the open door of the book stop and decided it was home.