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Pan American Airways - Destination PC's
Most airline postcard collectors prefer postcards with airplanes but there is a lot more to airline history than aircraft. Fortunately for collectors many other aspects of the growth of the airlines is available on postcards. Pan Am during its heyday was one of the major airlines flying around the world. They made a series of postcards usually given to passengers along with their tickets showing scenic views in countries they serviced. This type of postcard is commonly called a destination postcard. Many airlines made cards like this but no airline more than Pan Am. In this section I'm showing Pan Am's destination postcards issued prior to 1960. These are not popular with pictures of airplane collectors and most can be acquired for a few dollars or less except for the earliest Real Photo series. The postcards all show interesting views to promote traveling with Pan American World Airways.
Album by Barry Hepsley. 1 - 184 of 184 Total. 3373 Visits.
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1
Cuba. Native Rumba Dancing
2-1/2 Hours from Miami, Fla. by Pan American Airways. Card 261. Both of these Real Photo cards are the only ones I've seen.

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Cuba, Havana. "The Prado"
2 Hours from Miami, Florida, via Pan American Airways. Card 268. There are other non-destination cards in the series.

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Cuba. DOPS stamp box on back of these two cards.
Based on the numbers and the style of text on the front of the cards I believe these two postcards are part of a series out of Miami. See the Gerecke album.

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4
Brazil. Rio de Janeiro
This series of 6 cards are early Chrome postcards made with a dull finish. From the platform before the statue of Christ atop the Corcovado.

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5
Cuba. Morro Castle, Havana
The cards were made in 1947. The Morro Castle, completed in 1597, guards the Havana harbor.

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6
Guatemala. Carrying water in Jugs
Common to all is PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS bottom left on the back of the cards. Guatemala is easily reached by Clipper.

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Mexico. Mayan Pyramids
1947 Chrome postcard. The pyramids of Chichen Itza.

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8
Mexico Palms along shore near Acapulco
1947 Chrome postcard. Palms are an enchanting site at sundown.

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9
Panama. Beauty poses for movie shot.
Ancient Spanish cathedral wall in Old Panama.

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10
Typical back for the 1947 Chrome series.
Text in 3 languages and info on centerline on back of card.

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11
Panama. Beauty poses for movie shot
A series of Linen postcards were started in 1948 using some of the images from the 1947 Chrome series and adding some new ones.

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12
Guest Houses
First new image of the 1948 Linen series. Guest houses at Trinidad, Brasil, and Puerto Rico.

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13
Cuba. Morro Castle, Havana
The 1948 Linen version of the 1947 Chrome postcard.

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Guatemala. Carrying water in Jugs
The 1948 Linen version of the 1947 Chrome postcard.

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15
Mexico. Mayan Pyramids
The 1948 Linen version.

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16
Argentina. Buenos Aires' restaurants
Part of the 1948 Linen series. Baby beef and wine to a King's taste!

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Brazil. Copacabana Beach at Rio de Janeiro.
Part of the 1948 Linen series. One of the world's most cosmopolitan cities.

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Guatemala. Cathedral in City of Guatemala
Part of the 1948 Linen series. From the picturesque Guatemala City.

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Mexico. Native fishermen on Lake Patzcuaro
Part of the 1948 Linen series. Primitive canoes and butterfly nets.

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20
Mexico. Skilled silversmiths and expert weavers.
Part of the 1948 Linen series. Westidos Regionales.

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21
United States. Miami Beach
Part of the 1948 Linen series. Famous beaches, perennial sunshine, and beautiful girls.

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22
Typical back for the 1948 Linen series.
Note: This is the same style back as the 1947 Chrome series.

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23
Bermuda - Where It's Always Spring
Likely a single card issue. Only 3 hours from the U.S. by Clipper.

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24
Bermuda - Where It's Always Spring 1b
Dated on the back 1950. Have not seen other cards with this back.

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25
In the Lebanon. Baalbeck
Series from Lebanon. Real Photo postcard. Could be other cards in the series.

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26
In the Lebanon. Cedars
Another card in the Series from Lebanon. Until I see a postmarked example I'm estimating the series from the early 1950's.

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27
In the Lebanon. Typical back for series
Simple Agfa back printed somewhere in Europe or the Middle East.

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28
Argentina. Buenos Aires. Folk dances
669-53 in centerline text on back. Gauchos and girls performing.

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29
Haiti. "La Citadelle". Mountain top fortress
673-53 in centerline text on back. On the north coast of Haiti.

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Mexico. Oaxaca. Indian feather dancers
674-53 in centerline text on back. Only 2 hours by air from Mexico City.

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Uruguay. Montevideo. Plaza Independencia Park
671-53 on back. One of South America's famous playgrounds.

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32
Typical back for the 1953 dated Series.
Text in 3 languages.
No PAA logo.


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33
Winged Logo.
3 Languages.


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34
Argentina. Buenos Aires. "9th of July" Avenue.
Buenos Aires is the southern terminal for PAA's Latin American service.

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Brazil. Rio de Janeiro. Sugarloaf Mountain.
Clipper flights north to the U.S. and south to Montevideo and Buenos Aires.

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36
Jamaica. Tropical gardens near Ocho Rios.
A popular stopover on Caribbean Circle Tours.

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37
Mexico. Threshing wheat in the mountains of Oaxaca.
All of the principal cities of Mexico are served by PAA.

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38
Puerto Rico. Flying Clipper view of San Juan.
San Juan averages 360 sunny days a year.

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39
St. Lucia in the Caribbean.
Typical of the beautiful West Indies is the island of St. Lucia.

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40
Trinidad. Beach along Maracas Bay.
Maracas Bay is near Port of Spain in Trinidad.

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41
Typical back for the previous 7 postcards.
Winged logo bottom left on back.
3 languages in the descriptions.


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42
Winged Logo.
Text in English only.


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Argentina. Plaza del Congreso in Buenos Aires.
South America is a continent of beautiful city plazas.

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44
Australia. Melbourne's skyline.
As seen from the Banks of the Yarra River.

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45
Belgium. Bruges, with the old world charm of its buildings.
Typical of the Europe that awaits flying Clipper passengers.

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46
Bermuda. Hamilton is the capital of this group of islands.
A year round vacation haven only 3 hours from New York.

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47
Bolivia. Plaza Murillo in La Paz.
The Capitol city La Paz is 11,910 feet above sea level.

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48
Brazil. Rio de Janiero's famous Copacabana Beach.
Characteristic mosaic sidewalks and flanked by luxury hotels.

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49
Chile. The Trancura River near Pucon.
Chile's lake district 300 miles south of Santiago.

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50
China. Hong Kong. The White Pagoda overlooks the harbor.
View from the hills above Hong Kong.

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51
England. A village pond in Singleton.
In the county of Sussex.

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52
England. London. Houses of Parliment.
On the river Thames.

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53
England. The Shakespeare Memorial Theater.
"The President Special," between New York and London, is the world's most luxurious flight.

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54
England. Tower Bridge over the Thames River.
Ships on the Thames River in London.

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France. 8th Century Abbey of Mont St. Michel.
France is served through Paris and Nice by Clipper.

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France. In the heart of Paris.
The Cathedral of Notre Dame towers majestically above the river Seine.

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France. The Eiffel Tower in Paris.
The Eiffel Tower is 984 feet high, and was built in 1889.

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Germany. Castle Neuschwanstein in Bavaria.
Overlooking Lake Alpsee this region is served by PAA through Munich.

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Great Britain. Scotland. Rolling border country hills.
Scottish lowlands near Edinburgh, Scotland.

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India. The Jain Temple in Calcutta.
Served by PAA's deluxe "President" and low-cost "Rainbow" flights around the world.

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India. The Taj Mahal at Agra in northern India.
Built by Shah Johan as a memorial to his favorite wife.

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62
Israel. Jerusalem. The basilica of the Agony.
In the Garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives.

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Italy. The island of San Giorgio Maggiore.
At the entrance to the Grand Canal of Venice.

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Italy. The picturesque island of Capri.
Served through Rome from America via Paris and from Asia via Beirut.

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65
Japan. Farmyard at Oshimo Village.
Near Fujiyama, rice is dried on mats in the sun.

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Japan. Majestic Fuji, about 75 miles from Tokyo.
Pan American connects Tokyo with major cities all around the world.

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Lebanon. The ancient Roman ruins of the temple of Jupiter.
At Baalbek, 35 miles northeast of Beirut.

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Monaco. Near the French-Italian border.
View of Monte Carlo on the Mediterranean.

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69
New Zealand. Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu.
PAA connects New Zealand with the U.S.A., Europe, and major cities around the world.

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Norway. Beautiful country near Oslo.
Charming fishing villages nestled among the fjords dot the rugged coast line.

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Peru. Valley of Pisac near Cusco.
Cusco was the ancient capitol of the Incas.

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South Africa. Hout Bay 14 miles South of Capetown.
Flying Clippers serve South Africa through Johannesburg.

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Thailand. The high tower of the Temple of Dawn.
View from the water in Bangkok.

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Turkey. Istanbul. Saint Sophia.
One of the most beautiful buildings in the world.

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75
United States. A grove of New England sugar maple trees.
This peaceful hilltop settlement is named Sugar Hill.

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United States. A grove of New England sugar maple trees.
Mailed postcards are useful to help date the series. This one has a clear 1957 postmark.

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United States. Alaska. Wonder Lake, Mt. McKinley Nat. Park.
Super-6 Clippers serve Ketchikan, Fairbanks, Nome in Alaska and Whitehorse in Yukon Territory.

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United States. Hawaii. World famous Waikiki Beach.
Honolulu is connected with major cities on all six continents by Pan American.

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United States. The Grand Canyon is a breathtaking sight.
28% of all passengers to and from the U.S.A. choose Pan American.

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United States. The New York skyline view at night.
Clippers link the U.S. through 12 gateway cities around the world.

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United States. Washington, D. C. Jefferson Memorial.
This memorial is for the nation's third president.

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Uruguay. One of Montevideo's charming parks.
Deluxe "President" and low-cost "Rainbow" services to Montevideo.

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83
Typical back for the previous 39 postcards.
Winged logo bottom left.
Text in English.


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84
Dated. Only one seen.
Black ink on back.


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85
Fiji. Bushy-haired native Fijian policeman.
Guarding the Government House.

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Fiji. Bushy-haired native Fijian policeman.
Dated 1953 back. Have not seen others like this one.

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87
C - numbers. Dark blue ink on back.

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88
United States. Hawaii. Sunset at Waikiki.
C86. Always a thrilling spectacle.

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United States. Hawaii. The charm of Island girls.
C139. Exquisite flowers.

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United States. Hawaii. Surfing is a favorite sport.
C140. A familiar sight at Waikiki Beach.

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United States. San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
C442. Extends 8-1/2 miles across San Francisco Bay. Completed in 1936.

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92
Typical back for the previous 4 cards.
The C number is in the bottom left corner on back.

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93
P35 numbers. Dark blue ink on back.

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United States. Hawaii. Fisherman on the Kona Coast.
P35-16. Served by PAA since 1935.

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United States. Alaska. Indian Community House.
P35-19. One of the finest examples of primitive art by Alaska's native Indians.

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Thailand. Wat Benchamaborpitr temple.
P35-23. Made of Carrara marble by King Chulalongkorn in Bangkok.

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China. Red Goddess of Mercy.
P35-24. At the Lunghwa Temple.

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98
Typical back for the previous 4 cards.
The P35 number is on the bottom left on back.

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99
SC numbers. Dark blue or black ink on back.

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100
United States. Alaska. Mendenhall Glacier.
SC164. Part of a PAA aircraft wing in photo.

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101
China. Hong Kong. The Kowloon Peninsula.
SC169. The Aw Boon Haw residence.

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102
Japan. Watchtower at Imperial Palace.
SC213. Built in 1457 by Ota Dokwan, a feudal warlord.

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Typical back for the previous 3 SC numbered cards.
Number in lower left corner on back.

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104
No numbers.
Brown ink on back.


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Australia. Sydney's skyline.
Overlooking the harbor with the great steel arch bridge on the right.

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Guam. Natives seine fishing at Tumon Bay.
A picturesque touch to this off-shore scene of Guam.

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Japan. Mt. Fuji, 12,392 feet above sea level.
Located 125 miles southwest of Tokyo.

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New Zealand. Arrow Valley and Lake Hayes.
With the Southern Alps in the background.

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109
Philippines. Paco Cemetery at Manila.
Fragrant Calachuchi blossoms bloom the year round in this beautiful public park.

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110
Thailand (Siam). Exotic temple dancers.
Symbolic of the color, glamour and mystic charm awaiting visitors.

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United States. Alaska is a wonderland.
Hunting, fishing, or just filling your eyes with sights beheld nowhere else in the world.

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112
United States. Hawaii. World-famous Waikiki Beach.
Majestic Diamond Head in the background.

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113
United States. San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
Extends 8-1/2 miles across San Francisco Bay and was completed in 1936.

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114
United States. Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles.
Curves through MacArthur Park on its way to the "Miracle Mile" and the Pacific.

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115
Typical brown back for the previous 10 cards.
Winged logo top center and brown back.

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116
No Logo
Brown back


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117
China. Hong Kong. Colorful parade of junks and sampans.
The next section has a card with this front also.

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Wake Island. Pan Am's Directional Sign Post.
The island is less than 3 square miles in size.

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119
Back is similar for the previous two images
No logo on the back.

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120
As previous section with Globe logo added.

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China. Hong Kong. Colorful parade of junks and sampans.
The card comes with 2 back varieties.

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122
Back has the Globe logo added bottom center.
So far the only one seen like this.

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123
3 Languages
Black back
2 varieties


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Haiti. "La Citadelle". Mountain top fortress.
LAD-A-673-58 down centerline on back.

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125
Trinidad. Port of Spain. Hindu Temple.
LAD-A-670-58 down centerline on back.

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126
The similar back for the previous two cards.
Comes with or without Trademark text.

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127
Brazil. Rio de Janiero's magnificant harbor.
LAD 8739-00946 down centerline on back.

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128
Uruguay. One of Montevideo's charming parks..
LAD 8739-00946 down centerline on back.

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129
The typical back for the previous 2 cards.
The numbers on the back are the same for both cards.

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130
3 Languages
Blue back
2 Language varieties
2 Trade mark varieties


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Guatemala. San Antonio Palopó at Lake Atitlán.
A beautiful volcano-ringed lake.

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132
Jamaica. Quiet tropical gardens near Ocho Rios.
A popular stopover on Caribbean Circle Tours.

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133
Typical back for the previous two cards.
POST CARD
TARJETA POSTAL
CARTÃO POSTAL


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Brazil. Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio.
Great time lapse photo taken at night.

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Brazil. Copacabana Beach, Sugarloaf Mountain in Rio.
A mailed postcard to help date the series. Postmarked in Nassau, Bahamas in 1959.

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Haiti. Aerial view of King Christophe's Citadel.
Aerial view of this mountain top castle.

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137
Japan. Historic castle in Hirosaki.
Located north of Tokyo.

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138
Virgin Islands. St. Thomas.
Typical of the beautiful West Indies.

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139
The typical back for the previous 4 cards.
TARJETA POSTAL
CARTÃO POSTAL
POST CARD


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140
English only
Blue Back
2 Trademark varieties
A large grouping


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Argentina. Nahuel Huapi National Park.
Near San Carlos de Bariloche.

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142
Argentina-Chile. Lago Frias in the lake district.
Served through Buenos Aires on Round-South-America itineraries.

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Brazil. The harbor of Rio de Janeiro.
Looking toward Sugarloaf Mountain at night.

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144
England. A mill pond in Lower Slaughter.
In the Cotswolds. Great Britain is served through London and Glasgow.

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145
England. The village of Castle Combs.
Near the Cotswold Hills.

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146
Germany.  The chapel of St. Bartholoma.
On lake Königsee in the Bavarian Alps.

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147
Germany. The town of Cochem on the Mosel River.
Magnificent castle on top of hill.

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148
Italy. Beautiful Castle S. Angelo.
One of the magnificent sites of Rome.

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149
Philippines. The famous volcanic peak Mt. Mayon.
The town of Legaspi served through Manila.

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150
Thailand. The city of Bangkok.
Viewed from the Temple of Dawn.

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151
United States. Hawaii. Kauai is called the garden island.
Fishing with large nets in Hawaii.

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152
The typical back for the previous eleven cards.
The logo in the lower left on back does not have a Trademark line underneath.

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153
Austria. The village of Wolfgang.
View in Salzburg Province.

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154
Austria. The city of Salzberg.
Hohensalzburg Fortress on the hill behind.

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155
Bermuda. A secluded cove.
A couple shown down on the beach.

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156
China. Hong Kong harbor.
Chinese junk in the foreground.

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157
England. Houses of Parliment.
Night view on the River Thames in London.

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158
England. The Houses of Parlliment.
Day time view through the trees.

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159
France. Historic Avignon in Provence.
Servied through Nice and Paris by Clipper.

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160
France. Place de la Concorde.
Time lapse photo in Paris at night.

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161
France. The famous beach at Cannes.
On the French Riviera.

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162
France. The walled city of Carcassonne.
Scene near the Spanish border.

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163
Germany. Heidelberg on the River Neckar.
Jet Clippers connect Germany with major cities around the world.

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164
Iran. The mosques of Isfahan.
On a beautiful day in Iran.

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165
Italy. Portofino on the Mediterranean.
Beautiful view over looking the harbor.

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166
Italy. The Roman Forum.
View of the ruins at dusk.

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Italy. The village of Tai in the Italian Dolomites.
Magnificant view in the mountains.

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168
Japan. A garden in the city of Kyoto.
Small boat with visitors on the pond.

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169
Scotland. Eilean Donan Castle.
In the highlands near the Isle of Skye.

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Spain. Alcazar Castle near Madrid.
In the historic city of Segovia.

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Spain. The fishing village of Tossa de Mar.
On the Costa Brava.

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172
St. Lucia. Marigot Bay.
One of the islands in the West Indies.

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173
Sweden. Stockholm's Town Hall.
View silhouetted at twilight.

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174
Tahiti. Paopao Bay, known as Cook's Bay.
at Moorea in the South Pacific.

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Turkey. Two famous mosques in Istanbul.
St. Sophia, and the Blue Mosque.

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176
United States. Hawaii. Waikiki Beach.
Famous Diamond Head in the background.

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177
United States. Hawaii. World famous Waikiki Beach.
Another view showing Diamond Head in the background.

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178
United States. The strange and beautiful Monument Valley.
Similar views in Arizona and Utah.

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179
United States. The Vermont village of Stowe.
Winter scene with skiers lower left.

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180
Uruguay. Gauchos cooking over a campfire.
An evening with music and food.

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181
Typical back for the previous 28 postcards.
The logo in the lower left on back has a Trademark line underneath.

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182
No description of the image.
Blue back


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United States. New York City. Pan Am Building.
View of city at night.

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184
Unusual back with no descriptive text.
Have not seen others like this.

   
 
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