Exaggeration postcards

Started here. Actually had me fooled. It's from the Orange City museum's collection of old postcards, from a time when they cost a penny and seemingly were all the rage. Honestly, for a while I thought I might have to go to microfilm to find the story that goes with his incredible event. 

Then I looked at what that balloon was carrying--a railroad car--and something told me this was beyond the truth, especially since the ropes that linked it to the balloon were oddly slack, which, for gosh sakes, they wouldn't be.

And what about the balloon itself? As someone said, it's a turnip. Mr. Douma (see the signature in the lower right hand corner) had a ball, I bet, putting this together, photoshopping in the very first decade of the 20th century (the post card was sent in 1909). 

There's another by Mr. Douma. I'm skeptical now, having been spoofed already. At first glance, this one looks legit, right? Anyone whose lived here knows it snows--and hard. It's a kind cool picture postcard anyway, don't you think? 

Then again, I think maybe it's just another Douma phony. Look at the size of those flakes. Up against that horse, they're the size of an open hand. I'm not sure what Mr. Douma did, but I'm quite sure its some kind of hi-jinx. Bet he had fun. 

There's this, too. 

Maybe the most dramatic night ever experienced in Alton, IA. Looks to me like St. Mary's is in jeopardy way up there at the west end of Main. But then it starts to look outlined or something. Great shot--or just plain great fun. 

It'd be great to have a whole collection of the guy's work. "Exaggeration photographs," they're called, and hundreds, it seems, were in circulation about the time Alton's favorite photographer was messing around in the darkroom. 

Famous ones you've likely seen before.

Iowa churned out a goodly number. . .this one from considerably later.

The rural Midwest, for some reason, was circus of exaggeration. 

Lots of rabbits, lots of fish, a ton of rangy hoppers. 

Even found one created at the expense of the Dutch.

Wasn't a computer in sight back then, but the phoniness is just as genuine. It'd be most of century before anyone used the word "photoshop" like a verb, but that doesn't mean they didn't have fun.