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Problems › 156

Henry Wulf Postcard

Log

DateEvent
2026-09-08Public write-up recorded

Problem

A postcard addressed to Henry Wulf at Bennett, Iowa, combines ordinary pencil prose with thirteen principal groups of numbers. Several groups run across the physical lines. Separate marginal numbers and afterthoughts overlap printing and other handwriting and cannot be transcribed as a complete additional message.

The picture shows the Government Bridge between Davenport and Rock Island. The cancellation reads Bennett, 22 March 1916; the picture does not establish a Davenport posting. The open date-like mark 4-2 is retained without reconciling it to the cancel. The full principal writing is rendered below with its physical continuations and losses. What do the numbers add to the ordinary note?

Handwritten source rendering; line breaks and uncertainty retained


T00  A 16-18-8-8, to 9-22-14-20-22-7,
     [small later pencil: 8 3 9]

M01  [open date: 4-2]  Dear Darling, 8-4-22-22-
M02  7-19-22-26-9-7, 19-22-13-9-2
M03  D. 4-6-13-21, for 19-4-8-20-
M04  26-13-23, 19-22-13-9-2, How
M05  is my 8-4-22-22-7-19-22-
M06  26-9-7, 19-22-26-9-2 getting
M07  along now. Your 8-4-22-
M08  22-7-19-22-26-9-7-26-25
M09  18-22, is getting along fine
M10  only I got a 20-26-23 cold,
M11  just now, I can hardly talk. Now did
M12  you 14-12-9-13-18-16-20; that is all for [dear?] [good?]
M13  time. Write [many?] love and [remainder overwritten/too faint]
Mr. Henry Wulf
Bennett
Iowa.
R.R. #2.

Wide transcriptions scroll sideways within this box.

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Solutions

#SolutionByStatus
1Solution 156-1
A reading, written up in full
@offgramercyACCEPTED

Still open: A marginal number, uncertain postmark, and some ordinary handwriting need source review

Submit a source correction or a defensible reading of the remaining passage.