The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-18
ILLUSTRATED POST CARDS.
A Fad of European Resorts That Is
Now Popular.
The Number of the Souvenirs Used
Throughout the World During
SensOn Aggregates BilIiOns-A
Happy Iden for the Publishers

Happy Iden for the Publishers.
One of the most conspicuous features
of the vacation and touring season,
now in its prime, is the illustrated post
card. Confined at first almost wholly
to Europe, there is now hardly VII
lage at which a summer visitor is likely
to stop in any part of the United States
| which has not its representative pos
tai. Convenience no less than beauty
commends these little souvenirs, for a
correspondence while away from home
| or travelling often becomes BURDEN
some. Persons have now begun tC dis
cover that friends can be satisfied with
this pretty remembrance, which in
forms them of the writer's whereabouts
without causing him more than mo-
ment's effort.
The sending of these cards from Eu-
rope is particularly in vogue, and II IS
there that the practice of collecting and
preserving them has grown into Ier-
feet mania. The prevalence and rapid
rise of the fad is something astounding.
Although a hundred years ago few
precursors of the modern card might
! be found in hotels in Italy, the first
| of the present order did not appear I'M
til 1855 in Basic This made no impress
sion, however, and illustrated cards
We're practically unknown until their
| Introduction into Germany in 1870, and
then into France in 1872. The adoption
| of them as souvenirs by the general
public only dates from about twelve
years ago, but today 1t is safe 10 say
| that there is no country Of the world,
under civilized influence, that has not
! it's list of illustrated post cards.
1t has been estimated by DR.. Hembo
one of the leading authorities on the
subject of souvenir postals, that in
| Germany ss.0e0.o8O cards pass through
the postoffice annually. bringing to the
! Government 100000 marks Tor post
age This country takes the lead of all
! others, Austria Hungary coming next,
| with $1,000, 900 cards mailed. In Italy
there are 27,000, 900 cards handled by the
| mails, and in England 100000. 9th
err countries. although falling below
these figures, also number them
by the millions. The total number put
| in circulation throughout the world in
one year is said by experts to be 1850,
600, 900, of which nearly half come from
Europe.
| The subjects treated are, to quote
French periodical, everything imagin-
able and a few other things besides"
Pictures of buildings and monuments
| are most common. and some extremely
interesting and quaint cards represent
the peasant costumes of their respec-
tive localities. Prominent persons are
another favorite theme, and a complete
picture gallery of the sovereigns of Eu
rope can be gathered in this way.
Many designs are purely fanciful,
drawn by some artist OF repute.
Political cartoon cards are numerous,
some amusing ones having appeared il
Illustrative of the Boer war. Each pub
lie event of Importance also calls out
a new card, as in Italy after the death
of King Humbert an elaborate card was
issued bearing the picture of Queen
Margherita and the prayer offered by
her at the time.
The series idea was a happy discov-
cry for the publishers, and did much
to increase the trade. Among the first
cards used in this country was the Sc
ries produced at the Worlds Fair in
1899.
Large societies OF collectors are now
in existence, an international associa-
ton having its headquarters at Vienna,
and publishing a monthly journal in
French, English, and German. One OF
the French journals devoted to the in
terests of card collectors is under the
direction of a young Englishwoman.
Miss Belle Ward Campbell, who was
born and brought up in Paris. She has
also founded an international club of
women collectors, which il one of the
largest societies of card lovers in
France. II is one of the attractions of
these card journals that subscribers, by
sending a note of their names and men
tioning the particular country from
which they desire cards, secure oppor-
tunities to exchange, through the mail,
with persons who, though perfect
strangers, are glad to accommodate
them. For every card sent, however.
the etiquette of the collector requires
one IN return. Thus collections in a
short time may assume gigantic pro-
portions. and many European collec-
tors number their cards by thousands.
Even here in this country there are
several large collections, although
mostly among foreigners. A Brooklyn
woman, who lived abroad for a time,
has, probably. one CT the largest col
lections among Americans. her collec-
ton numbering over two thousand
cards
Since the cards must have passed
through the mail to be priced by the
collector. the woman mentioned above
has among her cards a valuable set of
autographs also. for many of them
came from friends in prominent public
positions abroad. Thus, a double pur-
pose is sometimes served by this inter-
esting fad.
Another use to which these cards
may be pat is suggested by a young
American woman who, when travelling
abroad, illustrated her notebook with
them. cutting Sits in the pages Of the
book in which to insert the cards, so
that they might be removed at any
time. A fascinating little picture jour
nal was the result. and all al the small
est expense. Many of her illustrations,
too. could not be found in photographs,
and We're all the more interesting be-
cause unusual.