From Alpha to Horseshoe, From A to Omega

From the quaint village of Rhinebeck, New York, in the Hudson Valley, Roy Arenella mailed me this card that makes one think about nearby Saratoga Springs, New York, the location of much of the horseracing in the state. But, of course, this card is about the fluctuating power of written language.


Roy Arenella, "Alpha Bets" (8 Feb 2005)
Note, for instance, that the omega is a horseshoe--thereby, reminding us of horses and racing, but also showing us that symbols can have many meanings, that meaning is an eellike beast.

This card is numbered 50C (the fiftieth item of the year, and a simple card). The stamp used on the card is a 33-cent "Secretariat Wins the Triple Crown" stamp (in case we missed the horseracing and betting references). This time the pseudo-cancellation stamp is a small square, perforated like a postage stamp and surrounding a tiny tipped-in square of paper, which includes the image of a horse-shaped toy that has wheels in place of legs.

un violon d'ingres