BOOKS AND READING AS DEPICTED BY THE PICTURE POSTCARD 1900-1950- 47 Postcards

Light edge wear. Some with correspondence on the reverse. A couple postcards with areas of abrasion to the reverse. Two with minor markings on the front. The collection as a whole uses deltiology to explore the first half of the 20th century through a unique cultural eye. Postcards, although that name was not established, first began circulation during the era of the Civil War, when the United States government transitioned from the stampless covers type of mail, to letters enclosed in envelopes with revenue stamps sold to mail them. Thus plain penny postcards were created. Yet it wasn’t until the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893 that the modern "picture" postcard was introduced. Largely called private mailing cards or other names, these illustrated postcards grew in popularity during 1893-1906. The pioneer era postcards had black and white, and later colorful images on one side, and on the verso, the name and address of the recipient. No message or other writing was allowed on the back. This explains the cramped handwriting on the fronts of cards. In 1906, the US Congress passed a law allowing part of the back of the postcard to include a message, with the right side still reserved for the name and address. This created an explosion in popularity of picture postcards, postcard collecting groups, and pen pals springing up around the world. Subsequently, the name postal card, post-card, or post card started the modern era of pictorial correspondence, and only a penny to mail. The collection includes printed postcards, real photo postcards, sepia tones, undivided backs, divided backs, full bleed borders, white borders, lines and chromes, and largely encompasses the full range and style of printing processes used for modern postcards from approximately 1900-1950. It is arranged by subject and constitutes 47 cards. The collection includes women reading books, men reading books, and advertisements promoting books and magazines. A collection of postcards highlighting the importance of books in homes, libraries, and the society at large. With the following postcards in the collection: LIBRARIES The Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library, General Reading Room. Harvard University. Reference Room- Ryerson Building. Grand Rapids Public Library. The Chained Books, All Saints Church, Hereford. RPPC. Despacho De La Madre Superiora Convento De Sta Monica Puebla Pue. RPPC. Bookmobile. South Central Nebraska Regional Library. Chrome. BOOK CENSORSHIP Les Sauvages. 1914. BOOK ADVERTISING Little Nature Library. Printed Photo. Biographical Album of Western Gunfighters. Chrome. Publisher’s Headquarters. The Curtis Publishing Company Building. "Over the Garden Wall" Given Away with "Princess’ Novels." Wilf Carter Montana Slim Songs of the Plains & Rockies. Music Book Advertisement. RPPC. MAGAZINE ADVERTISING The Great Home Journal. Printed Color. The Youth’s Companion. The Old Home Week, 1911. Printed Color. The Children’s Friend. Printed Photo. The Farm Journal. Printed Color. Rough Rider Weekly. Ben Tremont. Printed Color. Rough Rider Weekly. Bean-Pole. Printed Color. Rough Rider Weekly. Kit Summers. Printed Color. The Mother’s Magazine. Easter Greeting. MISCELLANEOUS CATEGORIES Time Flies. Get Busy. (Book with Skull). "I’m a "Daddy." New Comic Book. Not Postcard Back. The Romance of a Christmas Card. When I Was in Europe. U. R. Tiresome. 1909. Private Library. Advertisement. New Encyclopedia Britannica. Photocard. READING AND POSTCARDS Child Dressed as a Bird Reading Paper. RPPC. Old Man Reading Book. RPPC. Cat Reading Poetry Book. RPPC. Man at Lectern with Book. RPPC. Sarah Bernhardt Reading Book. RPPC. Woman in Rocker Reading. RPPC. Woman Coming Out of Book. RPPC. Female Student Studying Books. Printed Color. Nude Female Reading Book. Printed Color. Elegant Woman with Book. Printed Color. Woman Curled Up in Chair Reading. Japanese Woman Reading Art Card. Printed Color. Kimono Clad Japanese Woman Reading. Hand Tinted. Kimono Clad Japanese Woman Readi. …