The Postcard
A postcard that was published by A. & C. Black Ltd. of 4, 5, and 6 Soho Square, London W1. The artwork was by Edgar H. Fisher, and the card was printed in Great Britain. On the back of the card they state:
'From Jennison's "Natural
History - Animals" Price 7/6d.'
Edgar H. Fisher
Edgar H. Fisher was a British Impressionist and Modern painter. His work has been offered at auction multiple times, with realized prices ranging from 155 USD to 1,221 USD, depending on the size and medium of the artwork.
The card was posted in Leiston, Suffolk using a 2d. stamp on Monday the 4th. October 1948 to:
Miss S. P. Freese,
Room 36,
Churchman Nursery Ward,
Ipswich Hospital,
Anglesea Road,
Ipswich.
The message on the divided back of the card was as follows:
"Monday Morning.
Darling,
I hope you got my first
postcard because they
cleared the Aldeburgh
Road box 5 minutes
before time and Uncle
Reg just missed it.
He saw the red P.O. van
from River Hundred but
it went before he could
reach it.
We have just had a phone
from your hospital to say
they are doing you this
afternoon, so by the time
you get this it will be over
for the time being and you
will be counting the days
(10 of them) before you
can come home again.
All my love, Darling, from
your lonely
Aunt Iris xxx"
The Moose
The moose (in North America) or elk (in Eurasia) (Alces alces) is a member of the New World deer sub-family, and is the only species in the genus Alces. It is the largest and heaviest species in the deer family.
Most adult male moose have distinctive broad, palmate ("open-hand shaped") antlers; most other members of the deer family have antlers with a dendritic ("twig-like") configuration.
Moose typically inhabit boreal forests and broadleaf and mixed forests of the Northern Hemisphere in temperate to subarctic climates. Hunting and other human activities have caused a reduction in the size of the moose's range over time, although it has been re-introduced to some of its former habitats.
Currently, most moose occur in Canada, Alaska, New England (with Maine having the most of the lower 48 states), New York State, Fennoscandia, the Baltic states, Poland, Kazakhstan, and Russia.
The moose's diet consists of both terrestrial and aquatic vegetation. Predators of moose include wolves, bears, humans, wolverines (rarely), and orcas (while feeding underwater).
Unlike most other deer species, moose do not form herds and are solitary animals, aside from calves who remain with their mother until the cow begins estrus (typically at 18 months after birth of the calf), at which point the cow chases them away.
Although generally slow-moving and sedentary, moose can become aggressive, and move quickly if angered or startled. Their mating season in the autumn features energetic fights between males competing for a female.
'Monty'
So what else happened on the day that Aunt Iris posted the card?
Well, on the 4th. October 1948, Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery was named head of the Western European defense organization, with French General Jean de Lattre de Tassigny, British Air Marshal Sir James Robb, and French Vice Admiral Robert Jaujard as his aides.
A Coal Strike in France
Also on that day, 300,000 French coal miners went on a Communist-directed strike.
The Railroad Hour
Also on that day, the radio series The Railroad Hour premiered on ABC.
Iain Hewitson
The 4th. October 1948 also marked the birth in Otaki, New Zealand of Iain Hewitson. He is a chef, restaurateur, and television personality. One of his TV shows was called 'Never Trust a Skinny Cook.'
Linda McMahon
Linda McMahon was also born on that day, in New Bern, North Carolina. Linda is a professional wrestling magnate and politician.
Jan Savitt
The day also marked the death of the American bandleader Jan Savitt.
Jan, who died following a cerebral hemorrhage, was 41 years of age when he died.