A Mountebank
A curious case of an Italian word finding itself stamped upon a postcard of a characteristic type in India (the fakir, in this case a mendacious one). Mountebank is an old word for a charlatan, or salesman of quack medicines.
Men
Watchers Trans-Border Type
One of Holmes most popular images, with "trans-border type" referring to tribesmen who floated between Afghanistan and the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) border areas.
This not postmarked card had this written on the back: "These are what wear
How our Food is cooked The Bawarchi The Cook
A humorous card by one of the largest Raj retailers, comparing Western and Eastern cooks and procedures. It is signed by the artist Geo[rge] D. and dated [19]11 in the bottom right corner.
The Deccan Postal Service
[Original French] La Poste Au Deccan. [end]
Kunzli Freres was a Swiss company known for high-quality lithographic printing, and this was part of a series of postcards celebrating the way mail was delivered around the world.
Toddy Drawers
Toddy or palm wine as made from sap collected by climbers like this one in little pouches; fermentation was so fast in the humid air that a mildly alcoholic drink could be had in a few hours.
Ali Brothers, Homerule Leaders
This card, with the handwritten title "Mr. Mahamad Ali and Mr. Shaukat Ali, Homerule leaders" was sent by B. Bhorey in Baroda to "Mrs. A.G.
Varkari [Pilgrims]
![Varkari [Pilgrims]](https://www.paperjewels.org/sites/default/files/styles/square_thumbnail/public/slides/varkari_0.jpg?itok=1kdNQAcR "Varkari [Pilgrims]")
Varkari (meaning "a pilgrim") is areligious movement within the bhakti spiritual tradition of Hinduism, geographically associated with the Indian state of Maharashtra.
Up-to-date Parsi
By the turn of the century, newspapers had become an entrenched objects mediating social relationships among the upper and middle classes and their providers in Bombay.
This card could be from a very nicely done series by Taraporevala, although at
