Samuel Schmucker Raphael Tuck Halloween Bats Owls Rollicking Lanterns Postcard

This postcard exemplifies the popularization of Halloween as a distinct holiday in the early 20th century, particularly in North America. During this period, Halloween imagery on postcards shifted from purely macabre themes to more whimsical and child-friendly depictions, as seen with the central figure dressed in a ghost-like costume, surrounded by smiling jack-o'-lanterns and playful bats. Raphael Tuck & Sons, a prominent publisher during the Golden Age of postcards (roughly 1898-1918), played a significant role in defining and disseminating these festive visual tropes.