Who Was Ellen Clapsaddle?

Ellen Clapsaddle (1865-1934) is one of the best known American postcard artists. Her work is known for its daintiness and her postcards of children and Halloween are especially prized.

Clapsaddle designed about 2,000 postcards, which she signed, an there were many that she did not sign so they cannot be directly attributed to her.

Though her postcards bring joy to many collectors today, her life was actually a very sad story.

She invested all of her earnings in the Germany postcard industry, only to lose all her money (not to mention her mind) during World War I.

By 1932, Ellen Clapsaddle had lost all mental reason and could only sit and play with toys until the end of her life.

January 7, 1934, one day short of her 69th birthday, Ellen Hattie Clapsaddle died. She died penniless and alone with no record of her accomplishments.

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