Amateur radio operators -- colloquially known as "hams" -- exchange QSL cards to confirm two-way communications between stations. The card provides details about the contact and the station, including the call sign of both stations, time and date of contact, radio frequency, transmitter and receiver description and a signal report. Operators often add brief personal remarks about the QSO, using lingo and abbreviations that would be the envy of today's texting afficionados.

Besides being a utilitarian record of communication, QSL cards often express the operator's creativity and hometown pride with drawings, photos or other illustrations. Amateur radio operators also participate in awards programs, collecting QSL cards to document achievements such as working all states in the U.S. or all provinces in Canada.

This QSL card confirms contact on September 12, 1947, at 1:45 p.m. CST by W0CEX operator O. M. Lancaster of Matthews, Missouri, with W6MYT operator Joseph Hartshorn in Sacramento, California. Handwritten remarks read, "Tnx Joe for QSO. Be looking for you again soon, 73." The printed PSE QSL OM. TNX is underscored, indicating that Mr. Lancaster would appreciate a return QSL card.


On the reverse, the address includes the station's call sign, which is helpful because the operator's name is misspelled "Haltshorn." I know the recipient's name because the call sign and address match those on other cards. Postmarked on September 13, 1947, from Matthews, Missouri, the card bears a green 1-cent George Washington stamp. Matthews, located in the southeastern tip of Missouri, is a tiny town in New Madrid County within an hour's drive of four states -- Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Kansas.

This QSL card is as basic and plain as they get. It measures about 3.5" x 5.5" and is protected by backing board and a plastic sleeve. All four corners are bumped and creased; the edges show signs of browning. The boldly printed call sign bleeds through to the address side, which also bears light stains.

If you’re the winner . . . just prepay your high bid, add only $1.00 first class postage for 1-3 cards (or $5.00 Priority Mail if you prefer) to a U.S. address and this great QSL card from Matthews, MO, is yours.

International orders: First Class International Mail to Canada $1.50; UK, Japan, Australia and most other destinations $2.25, based on 2 oz. mailing weight. Priority Mail available upon request.

Happy to combine orders to save postage. Thanks for your bid!

"MOOK"