A Question on Pre-War Postcards

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Posted By: Greg Theberge

I was wondering if anyone has an answer to this. It has to do with the many many pre-war postcards out there, both baseball related and not, that picture unusual subject matter, subject matter that does not necessarily meet with mass appeal which one would consider normal for a postcard meant to be purchased and mailed by the general public.

While it would be natural to find, purchase, and send a postcard depicting a Boston scene if one was staying in Boston, or one that pictures Cinderella's Castle if one was visiting DisneyWorld, how, or why, did postcards depicting unusual subject matter come into existance? Were they meant to be sold to the general public? Were they sold in large quantities? Or, were they simply a variation of a photographic image, much like a cabinet card, but with a different background and never meant to be sold to the general public and only to the subject in question? (In other words, instead of a printed picture with Kodak on the back in today's world, they simply had a postcard backing)

For example:

While it would be natural to see the reason one would find this card:


Finding this card sold to the general public would seem less likely due to it's limited appeal:


And why anyone would have printed and sold this card if it was meant to be sold to the general public is completely beyond me:

(two guys drinking beer in what appears to be a landfill)

I thought David might have some insight on this question and hope that others may as well. Thanks for your time.

Greg

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Posted By: peter ullman

I think some old photo postcards are pretty unique in that they were likely made that way by the photographic studio...as an option selected by the customer...so they could be sent to friends and loved ones. Quite similarly the way my parents often do today...they have photos printed(or they do it themselves w/the computer)with a postcard back which they send to me!

ps...who is the dude in the 2nd postcard?

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Posted By: Rhys

Any person off the street could pay a little more and have his/her photos developed into real photo postcards from the negative so there are thousands of Real Photo Postcards of Athletes out there that were unique when they were made in the 1900's and are unique today. Just because an item has a postcard back does not mean more than 1 copy ever existed or that it was produced for resale by a photographer (although many were).

Rhys

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Posted By: Greg Theberge

Thanks guys. Makes a lot of sense.

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Posted By: Steve

Good explanation to Greg's question.

Peter, that dude was the proprietor of the nations first Sports Bar on Tremont St. It later became a branch of the Boston Public Library. But there's goodnews. McGreevy's has reopened recently near Fenway on Boylston Street.

Wiki;
Michael T. "Nuf Ced" McGreevy was the leader of the most vocal fans of the Boston Americans, known as the "Royal Rooters". McGreevey owned the Third Base Saloon, which got its name because it was the last stop before home. His saloon was decorated in a baseball theme, with pictures of the players, and a scoreboard on the outside wall. His nickname "Nuf Ced" was given to him because that was what he usually shouted to end barroom disputes, usually about the Boston Americans and the Boston Braves.

McGreevy amassed a rich collection of photographs, clippings, and other baseball memorabilia. When Prohibition forced McGreevy to close Third Base, he donated his collection to the Boston Public Library. Author Glenn Stout (A Red Sox Century) was curator of the collection for many years.

The theme song of the "Royal Rooters" was "Tessie" from the Broadway musical "The Silver Slipper".



Greg, You likely figured it out, but in case you didn't. The BA's held Spring Camp near Hot Springs, Ark in 1907-10. Oh, and my birthday is coming up

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Posted By: davidcycleback

What is said above is correct. Many real photo postcards were basically family photos for the family album and were not meant to be sold to the public. For families and home town photography studios and photo developers the standard postcard size photopaper was convenient for such photos-- a nice size. Some of these family photos were mailed to other family members and friends.

So some real photo postcards were meant for mass commercial consumption, while others were family photos or snapshots simply developed on postcard paper. For the latter, the postcard text and design was almost incidental.

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Posted By: Paul

The Red Sox postcard has names on the front that I guess were added during the photo developing process. Many other RPPC's have this too. Is that a sure sign that the card was publicly distributed? Or would some people order the card this way for their personal use?

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Posted By: boxingcardman

In the day photographers would often etch their names and/or information about the shot into the negative itself, so it would reproduce on the print.

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