RPPC Medical Students Cadaver Dissection Memento Mori Anatomy Postcard c1905 For Sale

A striking and macabre real photo postcard showing a group of nine young medical students posed around a dissection cadaver, several holding scalpels and instruments. The negative carries the hand-lettered caption "Man's Usefulness does not end in death," a classic memento mori sentiment from early anatomy-class souvenir photography.

• Real photo postcard (RPPC), original early-1900s photograph
• Medical school anatomy / cadaver dissection scene with nine students
• Hand-lettered caption in the negative: "Man's Usefulness does not end in death."
• Undivided-back stock indicating a pre-1907 production date
• Letters and marks drawn onto the students' sweaters add to the eerie character
• Unused, no postmark or writing; age wear and toning consistent with its age

Real photo postcard on an undivided-back stock; unused with no writing or postmark. Corner wear, edge nicks and overall age toning; some surface marks in the dark negative areas. Image remains strong and the memento mori caption fully legible.

How a card ships depends on its price, and the rate is shown on every listing before you buy.

• Standard-size card under $20 — $1.00 flat. Semi-rigid protective sleeve, sent tracked by Standard Envelope. (Oversize, fold-out and lot listings cannot go by envelope: they ship at the calculated rate below whatever their price -- the listing\'s own shipping line is always the one that applies.)
• $20 to $100 — postage calculated at checkout for your address. Rigid stay-flat mailer, USPS Ground Advantage, tracked, with $100 of carrier insurance included.
• Over $100 — postage calculated at checkout. Rigid mailer, UPS Ground, insured for the full purchase price. Orders over $250 require a signature on delivery.

Buying more than one? They travel together in a single well-protected package, and shipping is charged per card at the rate shown on each listing. On a larger order we will often upgrade the whole lot into one tracked stay-flat package at our own cost — you are never charged more than the rates above.

Scanthology specializes in carefully digitized vintage paper. Every card is scanned at high resolution, stored flat, and shipped protected. Questions welcome -- thanks for looking!