Vintage Postcard 1942 National Bellas Hess Union Oil 76 Mini Card Dry Falls WA

Social History: This card is a fascinating WWII "Home Front" artifact. Mrs. F. J. Halva used this free promotional card to request a "Fall & Winter 42-43 catalog" from National Bellas Hess in Kansas City, Missouri. It’s a great example of wartime thrift, using a gas station giveaway to handle essential mail-order business.

National Bellas Hess was a massive mail-order retail giant, similar to Sears or Roebuck. The building itself was an iconic 10-story skyscraper that dominated the Kansas City skyline and employed thousands of people who processed thousands of request cards like this every single day!

Scene: Tourists are visible standing at the precipice of the prehistoric cliff of Dry Falls State Park in Washington. They are dressed in classic early-1940s travel attire—men in dark trousers and women in high-waisted skirts—providing a perfect sense of scale against the massive 400-foot basalt walls. 

Petroliana: Highly collectible for fans of 76 Gasoline and "See the West" memorabilia.

Era: Early 1900s (Divided Back)
Size: 3.25 x 5.5" Mini Postcard. This card is shorter than standard postcards by design, intended as a collectible souvenir.
Type: "Natural Color Photo-Graphic"—a high-quality early photochrome process for the era
Condition: Minor edge wear. 

This is an authentic vintage item. Use the zoom tool to inspect the photos for a detailed view of the condition.