1996 PORTLAND Oregon MOUNT HOOD Rose Garden View USED Blue Jay Stamp CT-3250B

"AUTHENTIC VINTAGE PORTLAND OREGON POSTCARD - MOUNT HOOD & ROSE GARDENS - 1996 POSTMARK!

You're viewing a genuine piece of Pacific Northwest postal history - a classic Portland Oregon scene showing the iconic Mount Hood framed by the famous International Rose Test Gardens. These authentic 1990s postcards from Smith-Western Inc. are becoming increasingly difficult to find with clear postmarks and preserved colors!

This carefully preserved postcard perfectly captures why Portland is known as 'The City of Roses' with its stunning juxtaposition of natural beauty and urban development. This may be your ONLY CHANCE to own this specific 1996 Portland postcard with its original Blue Jay stamp and personal photo decoration!

Description

This vibrant chrome postcard features a breathtaking view of snow-capped Mount Hood rising majestically behind the Portland city skyline.

The foreground is filled with lush blooming red roses from Portland's famous International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park creating a perfect frame for the urban and mountain vista beyond.

The middle ground shows downtown Portland's distinctive skyline as it appeared in the mid-1990s capturing a specific moment in the city's architectural development.

The background showcases the iconic Mount Hood with its perfect snow-covered cone shape against a brilliant blue Oregon sky demonstrating why this mountain is one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the Pacific Northwest.

The card is bordered by a thin red line that complements the roses in the foreground and 'Portland Oregon' is printed in bold red text at the bottom establishing this as a classic souvenir view.

Smith-Western Inc.'s quality printing (reference CT-3250B) preserves the vibrant colors and photographic details that make this scene instantly recognizable to anyone familiar with Portland.

Historical Significance

This postcard captures Portland during the mid-1990s boom period when the city was experiencing significant growth and increasing national recognition for its livability and natural beauty.

The International Rose Test Garden established in 1917 is shown at the height of its bloom documenting this historic garden that initially was created to preserve European rose species during World War I.

Mount Hood a potentially active stratovolcano and Oregon's highest peak at 11 249 feet is shown with its characteristic snow cover that has sadly diminished in recent decades due to climate change.

The Portland skyline captured here shows the city before many of its 21st century additions preserving a view of the urban landscape as it existed in 1996.

This postcard was sent during the pre-digital communication era when physical postcards remained the primary way tourists shared their travel experiences representing one of the final decades of this traditional form of correspondence.

The card documents Washington Park's world-famous International Rose Test Garden which contains over 10 000 individual rose plants and more than 650 varieties making it the oldest continuously operating public rose test garden in the United States.

Condition

This vintage postcard remains in good used condition with the vibrant colors and photographic details still clearly visible despite having been mailed and handled.

The front image shows excellent color saturation with the reds of the roses and the blue sky particularly well-preserved after more than 25 years.

Some minor edge and corner wear is consistent with a card that fulfilled its intended purpose of being mailed adding to its authenticity as a genuinely used piece of postal history.

The back features a handwritten message dated 1996 a canceled 20¢ Blue Jay stamp and a clear Portland Oregon postmark confirming this card's authentic place and time provenance.

A unique personalized photo sticker showing what appears to be a mother and baby has been applied to the message area adding a special human element to this already meaningful correspondence.

Despite being a quarter-century old and having traveled through the postal system both the image quality and the handwritten message remain clear and legible.

Age/Era

This chrome postcard dates specifically to 1996 based on multiple reliable indicators including the clear 1996 date on the Blue Jay stamp and the visible Portland postmark.

The Smith-Western Inc. publishing style printing quality and reference number (CT-3250B) are consistent with their mid-1990s production period.

The recycling symbol indicating manufacture from recyclable fibers was a newer feature on postcards of this era reflecting the growing environmental consciousness of the 1990s.

The photographic style and color saturation are characteristic of premium chrome postcards produced during the mid-1990s just before digital photography would begin to transform postcard production.

This card represents an interesting transitional period in postcard history - recent enough to feature modern printing techniques and environmental considerations yet old enough to be from the pre-social media era when physical postcards remained popular.

Rarity

While not extremely rare finding this specific Smith-Western Portland view (CT-3250B) in good condition with a clear 1996 postmark and preserved colors becomes increasingly difficult with each passing year.

The addition of the personal photo sticker makes this particular example unique - an irreplaceable one-of-a-kind piece of both postal and personal history.

As more collectors focus on preserving examples of 1990s ephemera these transitional-era postcards are being removed from circulation into permanent collections at an accelerating rate.

This postcard provides documentation of Mount Hood's snow cover as it appeared in the mid-1990s capturing an environmental baseline that has historic significance as climate patterns continue to change.

This may be your ONLY OPPORTUNITY to acquire this specific Portland scene with its unique Blue Jay stamp and personal photo enhancement - once it's gone it's gone forever from your collection!

Collector's Note

This postcard represents an excellent addition to collections focused on Pacific Northwest landscapes botanical gardens urban viewpoints or 1990s postal history.

The combination of Mount Hood Portland's skyline and the International Rose Test Gardens creates a comprehensive snapshot of Portland's most famous natural and cultural elements in a single image.

As vanishing ephemera documenting both Portland's visual identity and mid-1990s correspondence practices this card preserves multiple layers of cultural significance.

The card belongs to a series sent to the same New Jersey address (Moerck family) suggesting it may be part of a correspondence collection that could be interesting to reunite for collectors of personal postal history.

Consider pairing this with other 1990s Pacific Northwest postcards to create a more comprehensive collection documenting the region during this specific period of growth and development.

Shipping Information

Your vintage Portland Mount Hood and Rose Garden postcard will be carefully packaged in an archival sleeve inside a rigid mailer to ensure it reaches you in the same condition shown in the listing photos.

Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost!

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a piece of vanishing Portland history! As authentic documentation of 'The City of Roses' from the pre-digital era becomes increasingly scarce these visual records become not just collectibles but important cultural artifacts preserving Portland's natural and urban landscape as it appeared in the final years of the 20th century."

 _gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.