Very often, notations on the reverse of these found photographs are obscure or too brief or illegible. Most often there is nothing at all.
But now and then there is a message from the past that sparkles.
Back in March of 2009 LOST GALLERY had a full page of photographs and their very interesting reverse sides. There have been many new additions to the collection since then.
Here is a new group of those photographs with mysterious, funny and sometimes puzzling reverse sides; tiny bits of history, reaching out to us over the decades and sometimes centuries.
"18'
Weight 2,000
We acted as if we were going to put Tommy in the fishes mouth but he wouldn't let us. That mouth is really big."
"Ask David whether he knows
this man woman and child
Joseph Gamble Welham
Near Market Hamboro
Leicestershire"
The Medina River
The water is clear
and blue looking
and is so swift as
you can see. You
can hardly stand
up in it.
Hello pal: -I saw Shawn last night as he came through.
He said you had promised
to come through here
to go to Taylorville
one week from next
Saturday.
I am with(?) you
and now
dont fail to
to
show
up
because
I will be waiting
for you.
R.R.A.
Mr. Kenneth Schaaf
Waverly
Illinois
(Postmarked: Pawnee OK, Jan 6, 1906)
Mr. James H MCewen
4301 Anderson Ave, Kansas City Mo.
My Mother & Father, Grandmother & Grandfather
You know the other
From(?) Geo F MCewen 2960 Glenn *** Ave
(Dorrcont?) Phla Pa.
sorry you could not find to see me when
here much dissapointed. Had much to talk about to you about.
(SOMEBODY WAS UPSET!)
All I can read of this is
“25.3.34”
Which I take to mean March 25, 1934
Can anyone read the rest?
Update! July 26,2011
Thanks to the helpful reader, PALOMA who suggested this translation:
"…it says 'Unter den Fenstern von [Webezig]'. It's German and simply means 'below/under the windows of [Webezig]'. Unfortunately I can just guess the name of the place though."
Thanks for the help, PALOMA!
All I can make out of this one is
7-28-52
Can anyone read the rest?
My only school -
Battle Creek about 4 or 5 miles east
of Moran
Taught in 1891-2
A friend of Jack
Jack Gelb and Me
Feb. 7, 1932
Idaho
Mrs. Jones (or Bones)
for Aunt Frank
Ralph Paul Thompson
23 mos. old
July 7, 1927
Mother Badger
Dad Badger
Bert Sheilly (or Sheely or Shelly)
Mrs "
Their little girl
Justine Kren (or Wren) Badge
Bill Law
Melvin Evelyn Alberta
Charles Jeannette Anna
Hess Hess Hess
(Pat) (Hon) (Sis)
3 1 6
It will probably take a moment to sort out which is which.
Orville Nichols
1415-6th St
Ports, Ohio
“to” (or perhaps "30" as reader Natalia suggests)
The only girl
I ever loved
O. N.
D. N.
Love
1/17/32
(Stamped)
Fowler
Jul 17 1931
Portsmouth: Ohio
Indecently, the car is a rare 1929 Marmon.
Cant get enough? Here is a previous page called
TURN IT OVER, THERE'S SOMETHING ON THE BACK!
And there are some new additions coming up in August and September.
There are now more than 4,000 photographs in the Lost Gallery.
The most popular photographs 
An album of the
most requested photographs
in the Lost Gallery.
Area 51 and a Half 
You are probably not authorized to see these.
Don't take my picture! Oh! You DID didn't you! 
This is a collection of photographs that disappear on the way home from the photo processing shop.
BACK TO
THE MAIN INDEX PAGE
Or try out the NEW
BACK PAGE INDEX
And don't miss
Cabinet Card Gallery
Penny Tales
Square America
Tattered and Lost
Vernacular Photography
The best
FOUND PHOTOGRAPH
sites on the web.
And for postcards try
THE DAILY POSTCARD.
All images are the property of Lost Gallery and the author. Permission must be granted for their use. All rights reserved.
THE KIDS 
It is always a mystery to us how a photograph of any of these precious children could end up lost or abandoned. Here are a few. You will probably say "Ooh..." at least once.
Dee and the Business School 
The beautiful Dee. A curious story, What do you see?
WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?
"What are they doing?"
