To My Valentine: George Willard Bonte’s Tuck Postcards From the Early 20th Century

George Willard Bonte found solace in the unusual. He was an author, artist, poet, cartoonist and political consultant. He was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and completed his education at the Cincinnati School of Technology before moving to New York City in 1900 to assume the position of assistant art editor at the New York Herald. After his first six years in New York he advanced to editor of the art department and held that position until 1920. During 1912 and 1913, Mr. Bonte served in a dual role by adding the responsibilities of Sunday editor to his weekly routine.

G. W. left the newspaper business for new opportunities at the end of 1920. He then worked at doing illustrations and promotional pieces in the motion picture industry until 1936, when he retired.

One of Mr. Bonte’s favorite pastimes was the creation of original comic art and cartooning. As early as 1908 Bonte signed contracts with the Raphael Tuck Company at their New York office and in 1911 and 1928 at their offices in London. Research is incomplete but two famously popular sets were produced at Tuck’s. One of which, GARDEN TRUCK, TO MY VALENTINE was checklisted by Stan Davidson and is presented here.

Few of Bonte’s Tuck postcards are signed, but in lieu of signatures Bonte often used a cat-like character with a heart-shaped face as his signature d’artiste.

George Willard Bonte died at his home on West 95th Street in New York City on March 13, 1946. He was 73.

(via Postcard History)