Thursday 12 August 2010

Sepia Saturday 36

The twin worlds of Sepia Saturday and vintage postcard collecting frequently overlap. Many of the old family photographs we feature in our Sepia Saturday posts are in the form of postcards. This reflects the service that was provided by most photographic studios in the early twentieth century - the provision of prints with postcard backs. When this service went into decline - brought about by the abatement of the postcard collecting hobby, the increase in postage rates, and the growing popularity of home photography - it would be almost a hundred years before things like Facebook arrived and personal photographs would, once again, be shared to such an extent. 

But mass-produced vintage postcards also provide us with plenty of images to set our Sepia Saturday compositions in motion. Old postcards tick all of the Sepia Saturday boxes : they are old and they provide a pictorial rail from which we can hang so many stories. The place, the time, the message, the recipient - all provide fare for Sepia Saturday speculations. Sepia Saturday participant dakotaboo provides an excellent example of how the two worlds overlap in his Vintage Postcard blog. My illustration this week is taken from last week's post and shows a Judge postcard of Hastings.

Whether it is a postcard or a carte de visite, a cabinet card or a dog-eared snap, it is always welcome at Sepia Saturday. SS 36 will take place on Saturday 14th August. Just post an image-inspired post around that time and link to it in the Linky thing below.

20 comments:

dakotaboo said...

Just linked my Sepia Saturday contribution for this week - a selection of sepia postcards of the colleges of Oxford and Cambridge.

Tattered and Lost said...

I have an actual sepia photo this week. I'm hoping someday someone will have information about the photographer. It's simply stunning and is not your usual estate sale snapshot find.

Sr Crystal Mary Lindsey said...

Its lovely to remember the past, reflect back and hopefully realise how far we have come, learnt and grown in the future.
I love reading other peoples roots...knowing the sacrifices their loved ones have made, the achievments and wonderful blessing left to them, who still survive. Bless you all. CML

Lavender and Vanilla Friends of the Gardens said...

My mother had a big old album full of old postcards. Unfortunately they all disappeared. The worst scenario, thrown away. I would love to have a look now. I was fascinated by them as a child. She also collected postage stamps and had albums full, all gone I do not know where.

Marilyn & Jeff said...

I used a photo of my grandfather for my entry this week.

Martin said...

I'm in, this week.

Leslie Ann said...

This is my first Sepia Saturday and hopefully not my last.

Unknown said...

I see many family postcards but I have never seen one in my family anywhere. I may just need to look in some additional places or talk with some other more distant family members. Great Post.
QMM

tony said...

I,m In!

Unknown said...

I found something that reminded me what a brat I was!

Vicki Lane said...

WWII and rationing led me to a reflection on the current war(s) the USA is waging.

Bruno Laliberté said...

i'll see you all on sunday possibly.
:)~
HUGZ

L. D. said...

I find myself getting more emotionally involved with the photos. My present blog upset me as I see the whole two generations gone. My older half of first cousins are already gone and me being the youngest of that group may be the last of them all.

Jinksy said...

Photo or postcard, the old ones are always fascinating, whether we know the stories attached or not. Long may they survive!

Alan Burnett said...

I'm finding myself in Sepia Saturday this week.

Nancy said...

I posted this week's Sepia Saturday very early this morning and forgot to link, but it's still Saturday so I'm not too late.

Kat Mortensen said...

A couple of exciting developments have occurred recently: we have made a firm offer to have a new house built and are selling our own. We hope to sell ours quickly and move out to an apartment while the new one is built and we take possession next March. As you can imagine, I've been exceedingly preoccupied, but I did make a discovery this week that I really wanted to share.

Kat (Please click the "Acadianeire" link to visit my Sepia Saturday post.)

Christine H. said...

I was going to opt out today, because we have house guests. I couldn't resist though. It may just take me a little longer to comment on all the wonderful posts.

Eric S. said...

Okay, I have two up. I'm not sure if the one really qualifies for Sepia Saturday, But there is some history in there. Have a wonderful weekend, and I'll be off to check out everyones posts shortly.

Anonymous said...

I was under the weather this weekend so missed out, but I'm looking forward to viewing all the entries and hopefully getting into the next event!