Antique printed postcard titled "The Whaleback Excursion Boat, Chicago, Ill." showing the cigar-shaped whaleback steamer underway, decks crowded with passengers and smoke trailing from the stack. Divided back with "This Space For Writing Messages" and an ornate red "Post Card" heading; a vertical imprint along the left edge reads "Made expressly for S.H. Kr...& Co." and "Printed in Germany" (partly obscured by the writing). Standard size, about 5.5 x 3.5 inches. Posted and in used condition with light edge and corner wear and ink writing on the back.

Machine-cancelled Chicago, Sep 2, 1908, 5:30 PM, with a green 1 cent Franklin stamp. The ink message, dated 9/2/08, reads "Tell your Mamma I had a nice time in Pitts. Arrived here Monday which was a very hot day, some cooler now. Goodby, Mabel." Addressed to Miss Mary E. Burton, 203 Wilson St., Salem, Ohio.

The whaleback design was unique to the Great Lakes, and this excursion boat, the Christopher Columbus, was the only whaleback ever built as a passenger ship. A good crossover card for Chicago, steamship and Great Lakes collectors.