Real photo postcard guide : the people's photography

"The Real Photo Postcard Guide is an informative, comprehensive, and practical treatment of this wildly popular American phenomenon that dominated the United States photographic market during the first third of the twentieth century. Robert Bogdan and Todd Weseloh draw on extensive research and observation to address all aspects of the photo postcard, from its history, origin, and cultural significance to practical matters like dating, purchasing, condition, and preservation.
Illustrated with more than 350 exceptional photo postcards taken from archives and private collections across the country, the Real Photo Postcard Guide addresses technical considerations of production, characteristics of superior images, collecting categories, and methods of research for dating photo postcards and investigating their photographers.
In a broader sense, the authors show how real photo postcards document the social history of America. From family outings and workplace awards to lynchings and natural disasters, every image captures a moment of American cultural history from the society that generated them.
Bogdan and Weseloh's book admirably integrates informative text with compelling photographic illustration. Not only collectors and archivists but also anyone interested in the visual documentation of America will find the Real Photo Postcard Guide indispensable."