Who Were They?

Carrying a postmark from November 1909, this vintage postcard features Santa Claus with snow falling around him, holding a sign that reads A Jolly / old Fashioned / Christmas / to you / and to me / if you get my / shirt. That last part was added by the sender of the card. In tiny text on the front reads Copyrighted 1908 by Julius Bien & Co NY. Julius Bien was a famous lithographic artist prolific in the 19th century and it seems, mostly known for cartography, not greeting cards. Bien was born in Germany in 1826, emigrated to the US in 1849, and opened his lithographical business in 1850. He enjoyed great success and his maps are treasured for their detail and beauty. He died in 1909, and one can assume it was his company that was responsible for his greeting cards.

Here is the reverse of the card, showing the intact 1¢ postage stamp, green of George Washington, and the postmark of November 11, 1909 in Englewood, TN. Addressed to Mrs. W. L. Philpott, the card reads as follows:

Hello how are you

I am all ok

Have you seen

anything

of my shirt

pass your house

I have lost one

Yours truly

S??yerilant — no clue

Answer soon