Welcome to our "Real Photo Postcards" department! Perhaps the most intriguing and historically significant of any type of postcard, these were actual photographs, printed on postcard photo paper. Professional photographers were able to create postcards from real photos in the late 1800's, but it wasn't until 1903 that Kodak developed the 3A Folding Pocket Kodak, which enabled the general public to take photos and print them on postcard backing. Interestingly enough, the Kodak 3A and it's numerous variations is an abundant model, and can be purchased today at a reasonable cost.

 

Real photo postcards are unique in the sense that they are not an artist's rendition, or a lithograph copy, but are actually captured by the photographer. Much of the buildings, landmarks, and general scenery found on these photographic wonders have either vanished with the sands of time, or have changed so much in the past 100 years that the places are unrecognizable. Even the great cities, New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, to name a few, have dramatically different skylines versus the early 1900's. In the early 20th century, these postcards would reveal the gradual changes in technology, like seeing fewer horses and more automobiles! Many, but not all RPPCs have locations and dates scribed on the print itself, giving the collector an easy way to organize and the historian invaluable clues.