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Postcards from the past
By TANIA FRENCH
He has passion for the past.
Postcards, historical documents, fossils… Kyle Boyd-Robertson delves into it all.
Although Boyd-Robertson has always had a fondness for fossils and historical documents, it was with an 1893 Priest of Pallas postcard that he realized his interest in collecting - particularly old postcards.
“I thought it was a beautiful picture,” said Boyd-Robertson of the postcard he found several years ago in an antique store. Priest of Pallas postcards commemorate what is known to some as Kansas City’s forgotten fall festival. The Priests of Pallas began in 1887 and was a harvest-time effort to draw interest and business to Kansas City. It was based on a supposed visit to the city of the goddess Pallas Athene. The event thrived until 1912 and was briefly resurrected in the early 1920s. In its heyday, Priests of Pallas festival events included a masquerade ball and a horse-drawn carriage parade.
“I was fascinated,” said Boyd-Robertson. “I began researching the postcard to find out more about it, and I was hooked.”
As he got deeper into his research, Boyd-Robertson came across more and more fascinating cards from various eras in the postcard lifeline, thus his collection began. There are several periodic markers in postcard history - Boyd-Robertson’s particular attraction spans from the late 1800s to the early 1950s.
Deltiology is the formal name for postcard collecting. It is currently the third largest collectable hobby in the world, surpassed only by coin and stamp collecting. In the United States, baseball card collecting is larger, although this does not hold true world-wide.
Perhaps the popularity of postcards can be attributed to their broad subject appeal. History itself can be tracked on postcards, from historical buildings, famous people, art, holidays and more. Almost any subject imaginable has been at some time portrayed on a postcard.
Postcards may be traced backed to their predecessor in what was known as the “Pre-Postcard Era” (1840-1869) during which lithograph prints, woodcuts and small cards were hand delivered. Another direct ancestor is thought to be envelopes with pictures printed on them which were quite popular during the civil war period. The first American postal type card was a privately printed card copyrighted in 1861 by J.P. Carlton. This copyright was later transferred to H.L. Lipman. Lipman Postal Cards were on sale until replaced in 1873 by the U.S. Government Postals.
The first postal card can be traced to 1869 when the Hungarian government accepted a suggestion by Dr. Emanuel Herrman. The first regularly printed card first appeared in 1870 as an historical card. This was followed by the first advertising card and the first multi-colored card in what is known as the Pioneer Era (1870-1898). In the United State the earliest known exposition card showed the main building of the Inter-State Industrial Exposition in Chicago in 1873. This card and others of its kind were not originally intended for souvenirs. The first cards printed with the intention for use as a souvenir were the cards placed on sale in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. During this period all privately printed cards required the regular two cent letter rate postage; government printed Postals required only one-cent.
The Private Mailing Card Era (1898-1901) marked history when American publishers were given authorization to sell cards bearing the inscription “Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Act of Congress on May 19, 1898.” This authorization allowed private mailing cards to be posted with one cent stamps - the same as government rate. As with preceding cards, writing was still reserved for the picture side of the card only. This began to change, however, during the Undivided Back Era (1901-1907) when publishers were permitted to drop the authorization inscription and the words “Post Card” were allowed to be printed on the back paving the way to the Divided Back Era (1907-1915). It was at this time that a postcard back was divided so the left side was utilized for writing messages and the right side bore the address enabling the front to be used exclusively for a design or picture. This was also known as the Golden Age as millions of postcards were sold and used.
The next two eras in postcard development were known as the Early Modern Era (1916-1930) and the Linen Card Era (1930-1945). Both were influenced by changing technology. Cards produced in the Early Modern Era were usually printed with white borders around the picture, thus they are often referred to as “White Border Cards.” Political humor cards were among some of the best during the Linen Card Era during which publishers began producing cards on linen type paper stock. This stock allowed for bright and vibrant colors. There are some that disagree with exactly when this era ended making the argument that it actually ended in 1960 (most published reports say 1945.) The basis of the argument is that though most production stopped around 1939, a few linen publishers published into the late 1950s as real black and white photo publishers continued to have success.
The Union Oil Series launched a new era, known as the Photochrome Era, in 1939, which is also the present day era. Reproduction techniques have advanced through the years and more original art is being produced than ever before.
Deltiologists often specialize in one particular era or card type. Today there are several card types including view cards which are a mainstay for collectors. These cards encompass those in which people trade featuring their home towns or places they have visited.
Almost as fundamental as the view card, the greeting card continues to be a popular collector’s item. These cards focus on a particular holiday or birthday.
Other card types include historical cards, art cards and photographic cards.
Boyd-Robertson collects a broad range of card types though primarily focusing on the pre-1950 eras. “These cards take you back in time to a place that is gone,” he said.
Fascinated by anything paper, Boyd-Robertson turned his hobby into a business venture about three-years ago. He first began buying and selling postcards and historical documents on the internet and still uses the internet as a strong sales mechanism. He has also just recently opened a retail outlet in the De Ja Vu mall to give local people the opportunity to see his wares in person. His business operates under the name Bygone Days Postcards.
Boyd-Robertson keeps his collection cataloged for quick reference when someone is looking for a particular card. His many thousand piece collection is quite varied and often changing. Currently he has several older Port Lavaca cards.
Boyd-Robertson looks for cards anywhere he can - estate sales, someone’s box they found in an attic, online - you name it - nothing is off limits.
“I’m pretty much your average treasure hunter,” he said, “and I’m doing what I love.”
Postcards, historical documents, fossils… Kyle Boyd-Robertson delves into it all.
Although Boyd-Robertson has always had a fondness for fossils and historical documents, it was with an 1893 Priest of Pallas postcard that he realized his interest in collecting - particularly old postcards.
“I thought it was a beautiful picture,” said Boyd-Robertson of the postcard he found several years ago in an antique store. Priest of Pallas postcards commemorate what is known to some as Kansas City’s forgotten fall festival. The Priests of Pallas began in 1887 and was a harvest-time effort to draw interest and business to Kansas City. It was based on a supposed visit to the city of the goddess Pallas Athene. The event thrived until 1912 and was briefly resurrected in the early 1920s. In its heyday, Priests of Pallas festival events included a masquerade ball and a horse-drawn carriage parade.
“I was fascinated,” said Boyd-Robertson. “I began researching the postcard to find out more about it, and I was hooked.”
As he got deeper into his research, Boyd-Robertson came across more and more fascinating cards from various eras in the postcard lifeline, thus his collection began. There are several periodic markers in postcard history - Boyd-Robertson’s particular attraction spans from the late 1800s to the early 1950s.
Deltiology is the formal name for postcard collecting. It is currently the third largest collectable hobby in the world, surpassed only by coin and stamp collecting. In the United States, baseball card collecting is larger, although this does not hold true world-wide.
Perhaps the popularity of postcards can be attributed to their broad subject appeal. History itself can be tracked on postcards, from historical buildings, famous people, art, holidays and more. Almost any subject imaginable has been at some time portrayed on a postcard.
Postcards may be traced backed to their predecessor in what was known as the “Pre-Postcard Era” (1840-1869) during which lithograph prints, woodcuts and small cards were hand delivered. Another direct ancestor is thought to be envelopes with pictures printed on them which were quite popular during the civil war period. The first American postal type card was a privately printed card copyrighted in 1861 by J.P. Carlton. This copyright was later transferred to H.L. Lipman. Lipman Postal Cards were on sale until replaced in 1873 by the U.S. Government Postals.
The first postal card can be traced to 1869 when the Hungarian government accepted a suggestion by Dr. Emanuel Herrman. The first regularly printed card first appeared in 1870 as an historical card. This was followed by the first advertising card and the first multi-colored card in what is known as the Pioneer Era (1870-1898). In the United State the earliest known exposition card showed the main building of the Inter-State Industrial Exposition in Chicago in 1873. This card and others of its kind were not originally intended for souvenirs. The first cards printed with the intention for use as a souvenir were the cards placed on sale in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago. During this period all privately printed cards required the regular two cent letter rate postage; government printed Postals required only one-cent.
The Private Mailing Card Era (1898-1901) marked history when American publishers were given authorization to sell cards bearing the inscription “Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Act of Congress on May 19, 1898.” This authorization allowed private mailing cards to be posted with one cent stamps - the same as government rate. As with preceding cards, writing was still reserved for the picture side of the card only. This began to change, however, during the Undivided Back Era (1901-1907) when publishers were permitted to drop the authorization inscription and the words “Post Card” were allowed to be printed on the back paving the way to the Divided Back Era (1907-1915). It was at this time that a postcard back was divided so the left side was utilized for writing messages and the right side bore the address enabling the front to be used exclusively for a design or picture. This was also known as the Golden Age as millions of postcards were sold and used.
The next two eras in postcard development were known as the Early Modern Era (1916-1930) and the Linen Card Era (1930-1945). Both were influenced by changing technology. Cards produced in the Early Modern Era were usually printed with white borders around the picture, thus they are often referred to as “White Border Cards.” Political humor cards were among some of the best during the Linen Card Era during which publishers began producing cards on linen type paper stock. This stock allowed for bright and vibrant colors. There are some that disagree with exactly when this era ended making the argument that it actually ended in 1960 (most published reports say 1945.) The basis of the argument is that though most production stopped around 1939, a few linen publishers published into the late 1950s as real black and white photo publishers continued to have success.
The Union Oil Series launched a new era, known as the Photochrome Era, in 1939, which is also the present day era. Reproduction techniques have advanced through the years and more original art is being produced than ever before.
Deltiologists often specialize in one particular era or card type. Today there are several card types including view cards which are a mainstay for collectors. These cards encompass those in which people trade featuring their home towns or places they have visited.
Almost as fundamental as the view card, the greeting card continues to be a popular collector’s item. These cards focus on a particular holiday or birthday.
Other card types include historical cards, art cards and photographic cards.
Boyd-Robertson collects a broad range of card types though primarily focusing on the pre-1950 eras. “These cards take you back in time to a place that is gone,” he said.
Fascinated by anything paper, Boyd-Robertson turned his hobby into a business venture about three-years ago. He first began buying and selling postcards and historical documents on the internet and still uses the internet as a strong sales mechanism. He has also just recently opened a retail outlet in the De Ja Vu mall to give local people the opportunity to see his wares in person. His business operates under the name Bygone Days Postcards.
Boyd-Robertson keeps his collection cataloged for quick reference when someone is looking for a particular card. His many thousand piece collection is quite varied and often changing. Currently he has several older Port Lavaca cards.
Boyd-Robertson looks for cards anywhere he can - estate sales, someone’s box they found in an attic, online - you name it - nothing is off limits.
“I’m pretty much your average treasure hunter,” he said, “and I’m doing what I love.”
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