Freak Fish Postcard

"Freak fish" postcard from Solemint, California, 1940s-1950s. Front reads: "They are biting well here / Greetings from Solemint, California." Divided back, unused, issuer unidentified. Back reads: "Series 925 Freak Fish — 12 Des[igns]."

Novelty postcards such as this were ordered from a distributor's catalog and imprinted with the name of your town. We've seen postmarks on "freak" postcards from Solemint ranging from 1940 to 1952. Postcards showing oversized fruits and vegetables, among other things, had been popular since the 1920s.

This card was probably ordered and sold as a souvenir by the Solemint Store, located near the southeast corner of Solemint Junction (SOLEdad Canyon Road and MINT Canyon, aka Sierra Highway). The store was opened in 1938 by Al Clark and sold around 1944 to Harvey Hanson and "Ole" Olsen, who employed all manner of gimmickry to attract patrons over the next two decades.

Further reading: Solemint Junction: A Happening Place to Be.