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Item Details
• Subject: Charles "Ches" McCartney ("The Goat Man") and his son Albert with their legendary goat-drawn wagon caravan.
• Type: Authentic Real Photo Postcard (RPPC).
• Era / Date: 1950s (Based on the Kodak Paper stamp box).
• Location Provenance: Handwritten pencil notation on the reverse reads "Knightstown, Ind." (Knightstown, Indiana was a well-known stop along his historic U.S. Route 40 travels).
• Size: Standard vintage postcard size (approx. 3.5" x 5.5").
Description
Up for sale is a fantastic piece of mid-century American roadside folklore history. This original, sepia-toned real photo postcard features the famous itinerant traveler and preacher Charles "The Goat Man" McCartney along with his young son, Albert.
The crisp photographic image shows McCartney in his signature goat skins alongside his heavily laden, hand-built wooden wagon, chomping a cigar and holding the tip of an American flag in his hand. In the foreground is his massive team of horned goats hooked up to a crude wooden yoke. These postcards were famously sold directly by McCartney from his wagon to curious locals to fund his nomadic lifestyle across the United States.
The back features the classic "Kodak Paper" stamp box configuration dating this piece directly to the 1950s. It features a wonderful pencil provenance note indicating it was acquired or tracks his visit to Knightstown, Indiana.
Perfect for collectors of roadside Americana, Southern/Midwestern history, eccentric folk figures, or vintage photographic ephemera!
Condition Report
• Front: Excellent vintage condition. The photographic image remains clear with great contrast, sharp focus, and minimal surface wear. Corners are relatively crisp with only minor, age-appropriate edge wear.
• Back: Unposted (no stamp or postal cancellation marks). Features a clean, legible handwritten pencil note ("Knightstown, Ind."). Shows some very light, localized age toning/foxing on the left edge, typical for paper of this era.
• Please review the high-resolution scans carefully to evaluate the exact condition prior to offerding.
Shipping & Handling
• Shipped securely in a protective archival sleeve and rigid cardboard mailer to ensure safe arrival.
• Fast shipping with tracking provided.
