This vintage Michigan postcard bundle includes two black-and-white travel souvenir postcards: one showing the S.S. Badger at Ludington, Michigan, and one showing a bear scene from Harrison, Michigan.
Both are used postcards with postmarks, stamps, handwriting, and visible age wear, making them a nice small bundle for Michigan ephemera collectors.
The S.S. Badger card connects to Great Lakes ferry history, while the Harrison bear postcard has that classic northern Michigan souvenir feel. Together, they make a simple, displayable pair for a Michigan collection, lake house shelf, scrapbook, or local history file.
Details
∙ Era: Harrison card appears postmarked 1936; S.S. Badger card appears postmarked 1953
∙ Item type: Vintage postcard bundle
∙ Number of postcards: 2
∙ Locations: Ludington, Michigan and Harrison, Michigan
∙ Subjects: S.S. Badger ferry / ship and bear scene
∙ Material: Printed paper postcards
∙ Color: Black-and-white / sepia-toned photographic images with cream postcard borders
∙ Size/Measurements: Each measures approx. 5.5 x 3.75 inches
∙ Design notes: Both cards are used, stamped, postmarked, and handwritten on the back
∙ Publisher/marking: S.S. Badger postcard back reads “All Rights Reserved — The L. L. Cook Co., Milwaukee”
Use/display ideas: Michigan postcard collection, Great Lakes history display, scrapbook, shadow box, cabin decor, lake house shelf, local history ephemera, or small gift for a Michigan collector
Condition Grade: Good
Positives
∙ Both postcards are present and readable with clear Michigan place names.
∙ S.S. Badger image remains strong with visible ship detail and handwritten front caption.
∙ Harrison bear postcard has a clear printed location label at the bottom.
∙ Both backs retain stamps, postmarks, handwritten messages, and original postal character.
Issues / Wear
∙ S.S. Badger postcard has a visible tear/crease at the upper left area and additional creasing along the left side.
∙ Both cards show age toning, corner wear, edge wear, surface marks, and handling wear.
∙ Harrison bear postcard has heavier contrast/fading in the image area and general age discoloration.
∙ Backs show postal ink, handwriting, stamp residue/marks, and normal mailed-postcard wear.
Sold as a two-card bundle exactly as pictured.
See all photos for detail — sold as pictured.
Condition Grade Key
∙ Near Fine: minimal wear; clean.
∙ Very Good: light wear; clean; minor flaws.
∙ Good: noticeable wear.
∙ Fair: heavy wear; complete but worn; priced accordingly.
Collector’s Notes
The S.S. Badger is a meaningful subject for Great Lakes and Michigan transportation collectors. Lake Michigan Carferry notes that Ludington was a major car ferry port during the 1950s, with ships carrying freight and passengers across Lake Michigan, and the S.S. Badger and S.S. Spartan were 410-foot sister ships tied to that era of ferry service.
The Harrison bear postcard adds a northern Michigan souvenir angle, the kind of small paper piece that often appeals to collectors of place-based memories. This bundle works well for someone who collects Michigan towns, Great Lakes travel, old ferries, or everyday mailed postcards with real handwriting and postal history.
A modest but character-rich Michigan paper bundle — the kind of small local-history find that feels right at home in a postcard box, scrapbook, or lake cottage display.
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Disclaimer
All items are vintage and may show signs of age, wear, or use consistent with their history. Photos show the exact condition of each piece—please review them carefully, as they are part of the description.
While I do my best to capture colors accurately, your monitor or device screen may display colors slightly differently from the actual item.
Please Note:
These pieces come from estate collections and have been surface cleaned. You may wish to perform additional cleaning depending on your preference.
