It is hard to resist the charm, authenticity and one-of-a kind appeal of real photo postcards (rppcs). Significantly different than a snapshot which was predominantly private in nature, rppcs were intended as a form of communication with others and it was not unusual for friends and loved ones to send amusing and sometimes bizarre images to each other. Amateurs and professional photographers alike made rppcs covering subjects ranging from the outlandish to landscape to souvenir studio portraits to historical events. Photo postcards appeared soon after George Eastman invented the roll film process and the Brownie camera in 1900. Around that time Kodak purchased the rights to Velox photo paper and heavily marketed the easy to use developing out paper, which was on heavy stock to prevent curling and came with a pre printed postcard back. In 1903 Eastman introduced the No. 3A Folding Pocket Kodak. The camera, designed for postcard-size film, allowed the general public to take photographs and have them printed on postcard backs. Rppcs continued in popularity until the 1930s when other photographic processes became more readily available.

The personal, authentic and idiosyncratic nature of rppcs has always captured the interest and curiosity of artists and collectors. Harvey Tulcensky is a New York-based artist who has been collecting postcards for twenty years. His collection of wonderful and bizarre rppcs is the subject of the book, Real Photo Postcards: Unbelievable Images from the Collection of Harvey Tulcensky. Aperture has just released another book about British photographer, Martin Parr, titled Parrworld. It is a lavish two volume book by Thomas Weski focused on Parr's collections including a selection of wild and beautiful rppcs Parr collected over a thirty year period. In early 2009, the Metropolitan Museum of Art will open Walker Evans and the Picture Postcard , an exhibition focusing on the 9,000 picture postcards collection Evans amassed during his lifetime (1903-1975). 

Real Photo Postcards are wonderful to collect and give as gifts.They are affordable (at project b they start as low as $10) and have proven over the years to increase both in value and charm to whomever is the lucky recepient. Check out project b's huge selection of real photo postcards.

Q: How do you date Real Photo Postcards?

A: RPPCS can be dated by looking at the stamp box (space for postage) in the upper right hand corner.The box features the brand name of the paper or the process used to develop the photo or both and can also include symbols such as triangles or sqaures.

Following is a list, in alphabetical order, of the most common stamp boxes and their corresponding dates:

AGFA ANSCO: 1930s-1940s; ANSCO (2 stars at top & bottom): 1940-1960; ARGO: 1905-1920; ARTURA: 1910-1924; AZO SQUARE (squares in corners): 1927-1940s; AZO DIAMOND (diamonds in corners): 1907-1908; AZO TRIANGLES 1 (4 triangles pointed up): 1904-1918; AZO TRIANGLES 2 (2 up 2 down): 1918-1930; CYKO (hollow letters): 1904-1920s; CYKO (solid letters): 1906-1908; DEFENDER 1 (diamond above & below): 1910-1920; DEFENDER 2(diamond inside): 1920-1940; DOPS: 1925-1942; EKC: 1945-1950; EKO: 1942-1970; KODAK: 1950-; KRUXO: 1907-1920s; NOKO: 1907-1920s; PMO: 1907-1915; SAILBOAT: 1905-1908; SOLIO: 1903-1920s; VELOX 1 (squares in corners): 1901-1914; VELOX 2 (diamonds in corners): 1907-1914; VITAVA: 1925-1934.

Submit your questions or comments to blevine@projectb.com

Photographica is an informal general term that refers to decorative and functional objects that are about photography, reference photography or utilize photographs in their design. Objects that fall into this category include cameras, manuals or advertisements about photography, materials used to make photographs (such as film tins or the box of postcard paper shown here), historical souvenir items showing photos of people and places, decorative objects such as pins and rings laminated with photos in them, lampshades and pillows superimposed with photos and funny postcards and novelties depicting photography and photographers. Due to new technologies old photo objects and ephemera have risen in value and photographica is a growing collecting area.  Visit the curiosities section for unique examples of photographica.