The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-19
ILLUSTRATED POSTAL
CARDS.
A Fad which Has Spread from Europe
60 This Country.

(From the New York Evening Post.)
There Is every sign that the fever for
buying or collecting pictorial post cards,
which long since became veritable
mania In Europe, is rapidly spreading in
all parts of the United States. Until two
years ago letter postage was required by
our government on decorated or private
mailing cards of any kind, and few, ex-
cept the worlds fair series in 1888, had
been issued. On May 10, 1898, however,
an act of Congress reduced the postage on
private mailing cards to one cent, on
condition that they are cut to the same
size as governmental postal card, and
that one ide is left undecorated for the
address. Immediately upon the passage
Of this act American stationers began to
issue picture-cards in surprising num-
bers. In this city alone there are now
about a 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 designs. The total number
Of kinds published in this city alone, &C.
cording to the estimate of one dealer,
cannot be less than 1000. Most of the
New York firms publish also cards show
ing picturesque spots in many other SEC
tions of the country. One price-list con-
tanned the names of % cities, views of
which were published by this particular
firm. some of the great dry goods houses
have begun to introduce them, and as
the season advances orders for illustrated
cards are coming to the publishers
from summer hotels in the mountains
and elsewhere.
The birthplace of the pictured postal
was in Germany, and that country Is
now the chief seat of the industry. His
torians of such matters trace two or three
isolated cards as early as 1873, 1877 and
1890. But not until about u 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 postcard. The
statistics given in journals devoted to the
interests of card collectors are truly as
tonishing. Since the introduction OF IL
Illustrated cards the number of cards
handled by the mails has increased by
10 II
said, and 100000 in Austria. Some
small provincial firms alone have sold
from 30, 600 to 40, 900 of them In single
season: and the total number manufac-
tured in Germany and exported annually
stands high in the millions.
Card collection Is an am usement shared
alike by the child and the learned profess
sor. 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 pictures
of Dreyfus, the hut where he was I'm
prisoned, and scenes from the trial, formed
one topical set in great demand. Anoth-
er was a series of 25 cards picturing An
dree's balloon expedition. In our own
country the Dewey celebration has been
profusely illustrated In the same way.
Colored and transparent cards are great
favorites abroad, and some OF the finest
of these come from Hamburg. All sorts
of light effects have been tried, and with
great success. One curious card repre-
sents the burning OF the city hall and
bank of Hamburg. Looked at in the
usual way, only an ordinary picture of
the street and buildings is visible.
Against the light the whole scene appears
wrapped in flame and smoke. Still other
cards when held to the light change
from daylight to moonlight effects. In
Belgium and Holland and some parts OF
made of woven silks. One may make a
collection of likenesses of all the soyer-
eigns Of Europe ON postal-cards, or of
copies of many of the famous paintings
in the great galleries. In Germany and
Austria photographers very commonly
advertise TO put the customer 5 own Ike
ness on a postcard. There are full sets
OF cards also illustrating the national
costumes OF Europe and the Orient, eal-
end ar cards, cards containing the words
and music of national hymns, scenes
from student life. humorous cards and
almost every subject imaginable Is treat
ed. The Homes and birthplaces of
statesmen and poets" and the Cake
walk cards are among the interesting
special sets recently published here In |
New York. One Ger nan publisher in |
this city has brought out large variety |
OF cards illustrating our high buildings, |
for these are particularly attractive To |
foreign collectors of American cards. |
The pictures ON many Of these cards are
by no means cheap and unworthy of pre-
sarvation. Skilled workmanship is en-
ployed in producing them, and they are
frequently excellently finished tllustra- |
tions They furnish some OF the best |
specimens of platinoprints and iitho- !
graphing in cOlors. The reproduction
Of oil paintings is really very good, and
some views of New York have been seen
that might pass for miniature etchings
See McCullum's great production, "A