Bay View Hotel Tampa Florida Linen Postcard 1951 Mailed Art Deco Interior
$ 5.28
Description
Bay View Hotel Tampa Florida Linen Postcard 1951 Mailed Art Deco Interior. Era: Linen (1930s–1950s). 🎨 Mid-Century Architecture & Interiors. 🌴 Tampa History. Colorful linen postcard featuring The Bay View Hotel , a prominent multi-story hotel located in downtown Tampa, Florida . The image showcases the building’s clean architectural lines, a comfortable guest room, and a bright, tropical-themed lobby — all rendered in vibrant pastel hues typical of 1940s–1950s Florida design. The back of the card promotes the hotel’s amenities: ⭐ “Ten Floors of Solid Comfort” ⭐ Every room with private bath ⭐ Central location — fireproof construction ⭐ Adjoining garage for convenient automobile travel The postcard is postmarked January 15, 1951 , from Tampa, Florida , and bears a 1¢ green “Fight Infantile Paralysis – Join March of Dimes” cancellation, a historic campaign to combat polio. The handwritten message mentions traveling through Orlando and staying in Tampa, giving a personal glimpse into mid-century Florida tourism. Details: Location: Bay View Hotel, Tampa, Florida Postmarked: January 15, 1951 – Tampa, Fla. Stamp: 1¢ green (March of Dimes cancellation) Publisher: E.B. Thomas, Cambridge, Mass. (Teknitone Process) Card Number: E-9060 Era: Linen (1930s–1950s) Condition: Excellent – vivid color, light age toning, clear postmark, handwritten note Historical Context: The Bay View Hotel , advertised as “Ten Floors of Solid Comfort,” stood as a landmark in Tampa during the city’s postwar boom years. Hotels like this catered to the new wave of automobile travelers exploring Florida’s Gulf Coast in the mid-20th century. By the 1940s, Tampa was transforming from a port and cigar-manufacturing hub into a modern business and travel destination. The Bay View offered the latest amenities — private baths, air circulation, and a garage — reflecting the growing expectations of comfort among travelers in America’s car culture era. The Teknitone printing process used for this postcard gives it rich color saturation and smooth texture, a hallmark of premium linen postcards produced during this period by E.B. Thomas and Curt Teich presses. This card is a striking representation of Florida’s early postwar hospitality industry and a fine example of mid-century travel advertising. A great collectible for enthusiasts of: 🏨 Vintage Florida Hotels & Motels 🌴 Tampa History 📮 Linen Postcards & Teknitone Process 🚗 1940s–1950s Roadside Americana 🎨 Mid-Century Architecture & Interiors
