From the 1940s through the 1960s, the Alfred Mainzer Company of Long Island City, NY published a series of linen and photochrome humorous cat postcards illustrated by Eugen Hartung (or Hurtong) (1897–1973), sometimes referred to as “Mainzer Cats”. These postcards normally illustrate settings that are filled with action, often with a minor disaster just about to occur. While the dressed cats were by far the most popular and most plentiful cards, Hartung also painted other dressed animals – primarily mice, dogs, and hedgehogs.

Phuket, Thailand. The girl is in the pool, which is higher than the land, and the elephant is on the land behind the pool. The photographer used an underwater bag to get a half submerged image. (Photo by Justin Mott)

A zookeeper counts penguins through an observation window during the annual stocktake at ZSL London Zoo in central London on January 3, 2023. (Photo by Justin Tallis/AFP Photo)

Jockeys and their horses compete in the Cross Country Chase, the fourth race on the second day of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse, in Cheltenham, western England on March 12, 2025. (Photo by Justin Tallis/AFP Photo)

The Facebook website is displayed on a laptop computer on May 9, 2011 in San Anselmo, California. An investigation by The Pew Research Center found that Facebook has become a player in the news industry as the popular social media site is driving an increasing amount of traffic to news web sites. (Photo Illustration by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

A dog named Yoda looks on during the 23rd Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest at the Sonoma-Marin County Fair on June 24, 2011 in Petaluma, California. Yoda won the $1,000 top prize as the world's ugliest dog. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

First Lady Melania Trump kisses Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau next to the President Donald Trump during the family photo with invited guests at the G7 summit in Biarritz, France, August 25, 2019. (Photo by Carlos Barria/Reuters)

Chloe Kelly and Alex Greenwood of England pose during the official FIFA Women's World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023 portrait session on July 18, 2023 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Justin Setterfield – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)