Devilish Greetings: Krampus Vintage Devil Postcards [Paperback]

Monte Beauchamp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 5, 2001

This sequel to 2004's hugely popular (in multiple printings) The Devil in Design (featuring 18th- and 19th-century Krampus postcards) is a fascinating, full-color compendium of extremely rare devil postcards culled from key postcard collections from around the world and spanning approximately 1898 through the 1950s. Lavishly illustrated with over 150 striking and stylized full-page examples, the book is edited and designed by Monte Beauchamp, editor and designer of the popular graphic arts anthology, Blab!

Beginning in the late 19th century, images of the devil began popping up on postcards in Austria and Germany, and by 1902 became so popular they proliferated across all of Europe. American postcard manufacturers took note and jumped on the bandwagon, producing their own versions. These penny "dreadfuls" were used to promote a vast array of occasions and products—from festive holiday celebrations, such as Halloween and Christmas (in Europe), to popular household products such as furnaces, chili peppers, and insecticides. More than just modest mail pieces, devil postcards were often composed by skilled graphic designers, illustrators, and renowned artists. Devilish Greetings presents over 150 full-color examples of these exquisite cards, culled from the finest postcard collections throughout the world.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Monte Beauchamp edited The Life & Times of R. Crumb from St. Martin's Press, and the popular Blab! series. His work has appeared in Print, Communication Arts, American Illustration, and the New York Festival's Annual of Advertising. He lives in Chicago, IL.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Fantagraphics Books; First Edition edition (September 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560978716
• ISBN-13: 978-1560978718
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #317,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Devilish Greetings, October 30, 2007

By 

Susan Brown Nicholson "Susan Brown Nicholson" (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Devilish Greetings: Krampus Vintage Devil Postcards (Paperback)

Book Review by Susan Brown Nicholson

Beauchamp, Monte. Devilish Greetings, 2007, 160p, 160 color ill, ISBN 978-1-56097-871-8: Grath & Thompson, Fantographic Books, WA. To order: Fantagraphics Books, 7563 Lake City Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115, 1-800-657-1100.

Once again Graphic designer Monte Beauchamp has produced a delightful book on a devilish subject, vintage devil postcards. The illustrations are outlandishly delightful with examples of metamorphic, novelty, and outstanding publishers like Osnabrucker Papierwaaren Fabrik (OPF), and more.

Devilish Greetings is a fiery, full-color survey of spooky, kooky and delightfully demented devil postcards from days gone by. It is a fun filled page turner, a must have for anyone interested in the visual arts, pop culture, and the glory days of the penny postcard.

The Devil made me do it, is a well known phrase. At the turn of the last century, postcard artists delighted at producing comic art to portray this mythical creature. While as Beauchamp points out, the Devil seems to have appeared in every form of mass-marketed printed matter, no where is he more prevalent than on the picture post card.

The Earliest examples are European, but went on to promote the haunting holidays of Halloween, and to celebrate the sinful and saucy side of life. This book features some of the most fantastic images of this horned creature whether he is in red, blue or black. He frolics in flight with wings and tosses his long tail as a form of expression. Don't miss the colorful antics of this creature featured on the pages of this delightful book.

The design of the book itself makes you want to jump into the fray and start collecting this image. The examples illustrated are outstanding with a nice smattering of the Krampus through the pages. Don't miss this as a devilish gift for someone on your list.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful resource of Devilish Imagery, February 27, 2009

By 

Discodog (Seattle) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Devilish Greetings: Krampus Vintage Devil Postcards (Paperback)

It can be difficult to find books filled with devil imagery but this one is a gem! Filled to the brim with a variety of vintage imagery from the frightening to the humerous.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Krampus and Monte Beauchamp books., January 18, 2011

By 

J. wisniewski "Wiz" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Devilish Greetings: Krampus Vintage Devil Postcards (Paperback)

Monte Beauchamp is an acclaimed brilliant, and original editor creator for several decades.

The KRAMPUS collections, both herein, and in his magazine Blabworld,

are jewels in an already heavy crown of his many acheivements.