Creighton University

1950? Movable TH greeting card for a swift recovery. 5 7/8" x 5" (6" when unfolded). T2208. Made in USA. A trademark shows "GB" on a bell. $6.95 from Mike Edelman, Solon, OH, through Ebay, Sept., '01.

The front reads "Hope you're making steady progress…And break all records for a swift recovery!" As the card is unfolded, the tortoise stretches his neck across the finish line marked "Health." The text on the inside is "Show a burst of speed." A disgruntled rabbit with a flag in his paw looks on. The card is signed twice by "Uncle Joe and Aunt Olive." When you click on this card to see it full-size, be sure to notice the second image showing the expanded version!

1960? New Year's greeting card from Marianne Hinckle. Small octavo folded sheet. Illustration from the 1479 Verona Aesop. Lawton Kennedy Printers. $10 from Robert Perata Books, Santa Rosa, CA, Sept., '00.

The caption from Henry James reads "Be Gentle and Delicate and Pursue the Prize." It is matched here with the Verona illustration of the snake and the file. The red-orange color of both the dragon and fire highlights the woodcut nicely. "The woodcut is from fable 53 of the Verona Aesop, the first edition of Aesop's Fables in Italy issued by Giovanni and Alberto Alvise, 1479." The message reads "A Greeting for the New Year from Marianne Hinckle." I deliberately cropped the image wide of the card, to show the rough edge of the front sheet.

1970? Movable Valentine greeting card featuring "The Fable of the Lion and the Mouse." 4" x 7½". Made in U.S.A. $5.50 "laustin1" on Ebay, Feb., '02.

The lion moves his head back and forth and says "Hi! I'd be so G-r-r-grateful if you'd be my Valentine." In the meantime, the mouse gnaws on his rope.

1980? Arthur Rackham TH greeting card. 5" x 7". La Jolla, CA: Green Tiger Press. Gift of Ann Findley at Meandaur, June, '93.

Here is the delightful scene showing not only the tortoise and hare but others who witnessed the bet. There is no message inside the card. The publishing information on the back indicates that the same illustration is available as a postcard. Here the image is pasted onto the front of a simple card.

1985? "The Fox and the Grapes." 5" x 7". Colorado Springs, Co. Gift, '85?.

An eager fox assumes a posture like that of a begging dog just before some grapes hanging very near, so its seems, his nose. There is no message inside the card.

1988? "little friends may prove great friends. Aesop." 4½" x 6". The Printery House. Conception, MO: Conception Abbey. Gift of Mary Pat Ryan, Nov., '92.

Though the saying might be most easily matched with LM, the image on the front of the card is that of a psychedelic insect. Might the image and saying both be taken from the fable of the hare, the eagle, and the dung beetle? There is no message inside the card.

1990 Landscape colored painting greeting card. The front shows a dressed female hare riding supine and perhaps asleep on a large tortoise. Above them is written "Enjoy the slow times, they are a gift." Blank inside. Paris Bottman. Lithographed in USA. Salt Lake City, UT: Bottman Design 125 30132. Gift, '94.

Even if it is a run-on sentence with a comma splice, it is a wonderful sentiment! The languid posture of the hare is perfect for this scene and message.

1991? Portrait-formatted colored painting get-well card. The front shows a mouse in a robe, with slippers on its feet and a steaming pot of tea at its side. "Country mouse…or city…" reads the outside caption, to be finished inside with "Happy Healing!" Ambassador: Hallmark 135ZF 323R. Gift of Vera Ruotolo, July, '92.

I would never have thought that Aesopic fables would appear in the world of get-well-cards, but here one is!

1992 Landscape photograph greeting card. The front shows a turtle and a hare looking out at the viewer. Opened up, the card reads "Your pace or mine?" Photograph ©1992 Rick Dublin, "Tortoise and Hare." ©1992 Palm Press, Berkeley CA.

The look on each character's face helps to make this card's impression. The jump from the story's competition to the card's invitation is also a strong category leap!

1995? "A Birthday Fable." Portrait formatted cartoon birthday greeting card. The front shows a farmer standing in a ditch and holding a ball of string and then climbing out of the ditch. The front's prose leads up to an outrageous play on words revealed when the card is opened. Dale Cards B-032785. RPP, Inc. 2 copies, gifts in '97.

A niche in twine saved Stine. How nice that people find fable things like this for me!

1998? "Congratulations" portrait-formatted greeting card. The front shows a sweating hare trying to catch up to a running tortoise and says "Congratulations." Inside reads "You've really pulled ahead!" ©Karen Lyn Morse. Printed in U.S.A. Animal Crackers. Boulder, CO: Blue Mountain Arts. Gift, June, '99.

The eyes and the drops of sweat make this anxious rabbit distinctive. The tortoise, who has a great smile, reaches out with both arms, presumably for the finish line.

1999 Birthday greeting card featuring TH. 6¾" x 4¾". Illustration by Clare Mackie. Boston/Paris: Graphique de France. Gift of Mary Pat Ryan, Nov., '99.

A hurrying tortoise extends an envelope to an eager hare. The caption inside reads "Better late than never! Happy Birthday."

2002? Birthday greeting card "A Birthday Fable." 8¾" x 4". Made in U.S.A. Kansas City, MO: Expressions from Hallmark. $1 from Sheryl Weilgosh, Oklahoma City, OK, through eBay, Jan., '04.

Here is a card meant to supply a surprising answer. Click on this small version first to find the larger version. Then click on the card to open it.

2004? Greeting card "Aesop's Fables," about 6" x 4". The front cover shows three picture cards and one text verso; the back cover shows two text versos and one "Sweet Afton" Virginia Cigarettes advertisement. Produced by the Antique Map & Print Gallery, April Cottage, UK. $1.88 from Jackie Daniels, Peterborough, UK, through eBay, Oct., '05. Nine extra copies at the same time for the same price.

The eBay advertisement for this item read "Cigarette Card Greeting Card." The irony is that the pictures and texts here were all taken from Typhoo Tea cards! The printing around the colorful picture ovals has been carefully removed. The card acknowledges The Antique Map & Print Gallery in Worcester, England. Perhaps the gallery had already removed the print.

Click on either image to see it in enlarged version.

2007 Christmas card "No act of love, however small, is ever wasted." Attributed to Aesop. Portfolio: Kathy Davis Studios: Graphique de France. Gift of Mary Keane, Christmas, '08.

Is this line attributed to Aesop really in the fables? This holiday card (4¾" x 6¾") has a printed wish inside: "Wishing you a holiday filled with peace, joy, and most of all, love." The front is decorated with evergreen trees and hearts.