Fabulous Fruits Postcard Box

36 postcards (each a unique design), each a unique design with a vintage postcard back with a dividing line and stamp box

Have you ever seen more delicious imagery? The USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection represents a remarkable fusion of art, science, and governmental endeavors. From this extensive collection, we've handpicked a few favorites (a challenging endeavor!) to reproduce as postcards.

Housed within the Rare and Special Collections of the National Agricultural Library, this historic botanical archive meticulously chronicles the introduction of new fruit and nut varieties by USDA plant explorers from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Spanning 1886 to 1942, with a concentration of works produced between 1894 and 1916, the collection showcases the talents of numerous commissioned artists. Their watercolor compositions graced lithographic reproductions in USDA publications and served as vital scientific records. Despite some pieces lacking signatures, historical records attribute the contributions of 21 artists—9 of them women—to this invaluable resource. The known artists with this set are Mary Daisy Arnold, Ellen Isham Schutte, Royal Charles Steadman, Deborah Griscom Passmore, Amanda Almira Newton, Elsie E. Lower, and James Marion Shull.