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Unusual vintage real photo postcard showing “The Face on the Bar-Room Floor” inside the historic Teller House in Central City, Colorado.
The photograph depicts the famous woman’s face painted directly onto the Teller House barroom floor by Colorado artist Herndon Davis in 1936. Inspired by the popular poem “The Face upon the Barroom Floor,” the painting became one of Central City’s best-known tourist attractions.
The printed caption beneath the photograph reads:
“THE FACE ON THE BAR-ROOM FLOOR”
TELLER HOUSE
CENTRAL CITY, COLO.
The front is extensively covered with an original visitor’s handwritten commentary discussing the picture and its story. Portions of the poem or its narrative appear to have been written around the photograph. The writer also notes that this was the only picture available at the souvenir shop, providing an interesting personal record of an early visit to the attraction.
The reverse has a faint photographic postcard back and is otherwise unused, with no address, stamp or postmark.
ITEM DETAILS:
• Subject: The Face on the Bar-Room Floor
• Location: Teller House, Central City, Colorado
• County: Gilpin County
• Artist represented: Herndon Davis
• Artwork created: 1936
• Format: Real photo postcard
• Approximate postcard date: 1930s–1940s
• Color: Black and white
• Front writing: Extensive handwritten visitor commentary
• Postally used: No
• Stamp: None
• Postmark: None
• Original vintage postcard
CONDITION:
Fair vintage condition with substantial writing and wear. The front is extensively covered with period handwriting in black ink and blue pencil or crayon. Blue markings extend across portions of the photograph and surrounding card surface.
Additional condition issues include age toning, soiling, surface rubbing, scratches and abrasions, worn edges and corners, and small areas of image loss. The central photograph is quite dark but the painted face remains recognizable. The reverse is heavily faded, with light toning, spotting and edge wear.
The extensive handwritten commentary is part of the card’s history and gives it an unusual folk-art or travel-journal appearance. Please examine all photographs carefully for the exact condition.
The postcard shown is the exact item you will receive.
ITEM SPECIFICS:
Type: Real Photo Postcard
Era: Interwar Period
Approximate Date: 1936–1949
Country: United States
State: Colorado
City: Central City
County: Gilpin County
Location: Teller House
Theme: Art, Hotels, Saloons, Tourism, Colorado History
Subject: The Face on the Bar-Room Floor
Artist: Herndon Davis
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Postage Condition: Unposted
Unit of Sale: Single Unit
Number of Items: 1
