Friday, March 16, 2012

The Postcard Challenge 2012

Week 11  The Netherlands



Week 11 finds our Bookseller in The Netherlands. He sounds like a happy tourist and proud owner of a very important antique map: Bleau color map of Africa, 1617, framed so viewer is able to see both sides.
Translation of Hank's postcard:

The Netherlands are as beautiful as they are interesting. Lots of prints and maps in all the bookstores. I bought a beautifiul Bleau color map of Africa in a two sided frame. This is the Dutch edition from about 1617,
Paid a ton for it, but I think we can do well with it (I hope)
Luv,
Hubby



An American, Mary Mapes Dodge, wrote a book in 1865 called Hans Brinker; or, the Silver Skates: A Story of Life in Holland. This book is where the story of the boy who stuck his finger in the dike originated, but he was a different character,one who had no name in the book. Hans is a skater who, according to Wikipedia, introduced Americans to speed skating.
Amazon, last look, had 1196 copies of this title, in various editions and conditions. No one seems to have a copy of the true first edition, nor the first edition that was printed a year later in the Netherlands.
This is a digital enhancement of a watercolor painting i did of Hans. Not a good job at keeping poor Hans in good proportion, but I planned the space weirdly and did not give him quite enough room for his legs, so I tried to show them bending as he skates.  :)


18 comments:

  1. I love your postcard! You are mastering water colour so well.
    Hope they do well selling that book!

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  2. Its a very nice postcard. a great painting. and an interesting story, different...

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  3. Lovely card and an intersting story! Valerie

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  4. Lovely postcard, and a great drawing. I read The Silver Skates years ago and had forgotten until you reminded us about the story. Well done.

    Janet xx

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  5. Like your drawing, the bent legs make him look like he is speed skating.
    Jen x

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  6. Great Postcard...always wondered where the finger in the dyke story came from...thanks for that information

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  7. Great painting with the windmill in the background. Hank does sound pretty chuffed with himself and his map! :-)

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  8. Fab colours and love your skater in action sketch, very cool! M

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  9. Great job rose, and you totally took me back to my childhood. i remember reading that book.

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  10. I've never heard of that book but I love your take on the postcard. :)

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  11. Rose nice job -Not sure I heard about that book or story either.

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  12. The book is new to me too, but I love your postcard. Caz

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  13. Ever tried to take a photo of children skating? The weird angles look just about the same since they are constantly out of balance! You did great!!! ♥

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  14. Once again Rose you have understated your talent. YOu did a great job on all aspects of this paining including making him look like his IS skating. I remember this story - read it as a youngster.

    JEan

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  15. Wonderful job on the card. I really like the background scenery. So Pretty!!

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  16. And he does look like he is bending as he skates :D Lovely colourful image :D XXX

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