Customer Reviews

Real Photo Postcard Guide: The People's Photography

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

In the thirty five years of collecting postcards, with real photo post cards my speciality, there has never been a good book, until now covering this subject.

This book of 274 pages covers all aspects of what one would ever wish to know about this form of collectiing. Major chapter headings are: Introduction, Fundamentals, Photographers & Careers, Dimensions of Desirability,Collecting Categories, Objects to Treasure, Sitting in the Graveyard & Conclusion. Each chapter has many subdivisions, very well marked in the table of contents by page number. At the end is a very complete appendix & index. Being on the subject of photographs there are naturally a great number, totaling around 270.

The only reason I did not rate this 5 star is that the quality of the photo reproduction is not in keeping with the tremendous efforts the authors have put into this book. Though the photos are O.K., with todays technology, I feel the publisher let the authors down.

Collectors have been waiting a long time for a book like this, & I very much doubt that there is more to be said on this subject. The authors are to be congradulated on a job well done.

Photo postcard collectors and fans of photo postcard art have plenty to enjoy in REAL PHOTO POSTCARD GUIDE: THE PEOPLE'S PHOTOGRAPHY. Such art dominated the U.S. Photo market during the first third of the 20th century, but until now hasn't received a comprehensive coverage. The authors have plumbed archives and conducted original research to cover photo postcard history, art, and specifics on dating and preserving a collection. Over three hundred photo postcards from archives and private collections across the country display a fine range of black and white images. Any serious photography library or collector's handbook holding must have this.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I bought this book to learn more about the Real Photo Postcards I had become addicted to buying. It is full of the history of postcards, photography and the combination of the two in the form of Real Photo Postcards. It has excellent resources in the appendixes to help you date your cards. I have used the book to date my postcards, include informational background for lesson plans (I teach a writing workshop using RPPCs, and to give me context when I creatively write fiction with the real Photo Postcards.

Beautifully written, this all inclusive text will enchant all levels of deltiologists (real photo collectors et al)with an excellent in-depth study of the photographer-generated postcard. Well illustrated, this oversized edition reads like a novel: it's very difficult to put down. As a long-time collector, I learned more from this book than all others on the topic No use to take a college level course in real photo: its right between these pages. Definitely 5* & well worth the investment. Bravo to Bogden!

What makes this book exceptional is that it provides both a good history, and fundamentals, while including around 300 superb examples of real photo cards. For the text there is a quick history of postcards and photography. For those trying to date cards, there are good hints, and the inclusion of appendix on dating based on stamps and the backs is a big help. By looking at the background of a few photographers, the reader is help to understand the life of a professional photographer of the time. This is supplemented by a discussion on how the author researched the life of photographer William Mandeville, and the appendix includes a brief paragraph on around 200 photographers. The longest chapter is on categories, with over 100 examples, and some favorites included "After shooting the oil tank", ""Calvin Coolidge plowing", and an early Coca-cola delivery truck.

I've collected postcards for over 30 years and this by far is THE best book on Real Photo postcards that I have ever had the pleasure of owning. In my estimation, it is the definitive source on the subject. I would highly reccomend this volume to anyone who collects postcards, postal history, or vintage photographic images, and would also suggest that it makes a nice addition to libraries on a whole range of topics that are represented in this volume.

This comprehensive reference book is a must-have" for collectors of real photo postcards or for anyone starting out collecting.
It provides information and examples on how postcards document our history.
Very well done.
I'm very happy to have it.