The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-22
rrom the New YORK Post.

terestinG CoIIectiOns-The Latest
Novelties.
From the New York Post
There is every sign that the fever fer
buving or collecting pictorial postcards
which long since became a veritahle mania
in Europe, is rapidly spreading in all
parts Of the United States Until two
years ago letter postage was required by
orr government on decorated or private
mailing cards of any kind, and few, ex-
cept the Worlds Fair series in 1898, had
been issued. On May 10. 1898, however, an
act of Congress reduced the postage on
private mailing cards. to one cent on con-
dillon that they are cut to the same size
as a government postal card, and that
one side is left undecorated for the ad-
dress. Immediately upon the passage of
this act American stationers began to is
sue picture-cards in surprising numbers.
In this city alone there are now about
dozen publishers issuing regular lines of
decorated postcards. Four of these firms
control most of the business. The lists of
any of these larger houses will contain
the names of as many as $50 different de-
signs. The total number of kinds publish
cd in this city alone, according to the es-
innate of one dealer, cannot be less than
1000 Most of the New York firms publish
also cards showing picturesque spots in
many other sections of the country. One
prce-list contained the names of twenty
two cities. views of which were publish
cd by this particular firm. Some of the
great dry-goods houses have begun TO 10
troduce them, and as the season advances
orders for il ustrated cards are coming to
the publishers from summer hotels in the
mountains and elsewhere
birthplace of the Pictured Postal.
The birthplace of the pictured postal
was in Germany, and that country is now
the chief seat of the industry. Historians
Of such matters trace two or three iso-
lated cards as early as 1873, 1871 and 1880
But not until about twelve years ago was
any definite attempt made there to put
them on sale From Finland to Cape
Town, from Rio de Janeiro to India and
Japan, the illustrated postal has made its
way. No tiniest village in Germany or
Austria is without its post card. The sta
tstics given in journals devoted to the in
terests of card collectors are truly aston
shing. Since the Introduction of illustrat-
ed cards the number of cards handled by
the mails has increased by about 1900 900
Yearly In Germany, it is said, and 100000
In Austria. Some small provincial firms
alone have sold from 10000 to 10000 or
them in a single season; and the total
number manufactured in Germany and
exported annually stands high In the mill
ions.
Card collection is an amusement shared
alike by the child and the learned pro-
lessor. Theaters, hotels and steamboats,
use them as souvenirs. Every political
religious, or musical event of importance
gives occasion for some new topical post
card The Dreyfus cards. with picture of
ha haT#
and scenes from the trial. formed one top
lCd. set in great demand. Another was q
series OF twenty-five cards picturing An
ufees balloon expedition. In our own
country the Dewey celebration has been
pIoiusely illustrated in the same way.
'oi0red and Transparent Cards.
Colored and transparent cards are great
laNofltes abroad and some of the finest of
these come from Hamburg. All. sorts of
hsht effects have been tried and with
great success. One curious card repre-
SCENTS the burning of the City Hall and
odnk o. Hamburg. Looked at in the
usual way, only an ordinary picture of
Vue street and building is visible Against
the light the whole scene appears wrap
peu IN flame and smoke. Still other
caids when held to the light change from
uaylght TO moonlight effects In Bel
Sum ana Holland and some parts of Ger
Hi0uy ehere are cards with views made
VI woven silks. One may make a col
iec'loh OF hkenesses of all the sovereigns
VI europe on postal cards, or of comics
Vi many OF the famous paintings in the
sIeat galleries. In Germany and Aus
IRA photographers very commonly adj
seIOse TO put the customers own like
neSs on postcard. There are full sets
VI CARDS also illustrating the national cos
soiHes OF Europe and the Orient, calen-
va cdrus, cards containing the words
anu music of national hymns scenes
I'm student life, humorous cards, and
o,iiiost every subject imaginable Is treat
90 Inc Homes and Birthplaees of
-, 9,,d,esmen and Poets" and the cake
"aIh cards are among the interesting
Epeclai sets recently published here in
New York. One German publisher in
~ o. clty mas brought out large variety
" eards illustrating our high buildings.
~ these are particularly attractive 10
sh collectors of American cards. The
nl Tres on many of these cards are by
~ means cheap and unworthy of preser-
.auon. Skilled workmanship Is employed
H. toauclng them and they are frequent
- eNcelently finished Illustrations They
nr'ulSh some of the best specimens of
pa"no prints and lthographing in col
raait ne reproduction Of oil paintings is
w very good, and some views of New
I'th nave been seen that might pass for
miniature etchings.
OAuoubtedly a great impetus 10 the trade
io7 come from the large associations of
c r,si. lors that have been formed I'm the va
aio1S countries of Europe. Between three
anu sl our years ago several societies were
.SIHed almost simultaneously to facilitate
'iiv eAchange of illustrated cards among
coiectors. One of these associations
WIZ a bureau at Eyer. Bohemia, includes
seahp-eollecting and natural history cor
,espondence among its objects, and num-
oers at least 1900 members It's agents
aie found all over the world Lists of
neM members are circulated ten times
turing the year, and the journal published
ny the union is sent gratis to each MEM
- 1t Is the duty OF the agent in the
postcard department to reply by an illus
ualed postcard to each card sent him by
81 MEMBER of the union. The system en-
-Dies hundreds Of persons TO SECURE large