A GMC 1/2-TON PANEL TRUCK in 1940

Entering World War II for the United States was still almost two years away when this card was sent, but fuel economy was already a topic of discussion.


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What a grand truck this was.

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And notice the stamp commemorating author Washington Irving.

Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American author, essayist, biographer, historian, and diplomat of the early 19th century. He is best known for his short stories "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle", both of which appear in his book The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent. His historical works include biographies of George Washington, Oliver Goldsmith and Muhammad, and several histories of 15th-century Spain dealing with subjects such as Christopher Columbus, the Moors, and the Alhambra. Irving served as the U.S. ambassador to Spain from 1842 to 1846. (SOURCE: Wikipedia)

Wouldn't one of these trucks have been useful at Irving's estate?

(SOURCE: Hudson Valley)

Think of the books he could have hauled around in the back as he drove from book store to book store hawking his stories. Would "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" find an audience today if he had to self-publish? Or would he have a large house full of unsold books?

More than once, before print-on-demand, I asked an author who wanted to self-publish, "How much garage space do you have?" If they didn't understand the question I knew they weren't ready to self-publish.