In the early1970's my wife and I lived in Taos, New Mexico, and I was employed full time at the Taos Book Shop, on Kit Carson Road, just across the street from this frontiersman's home. I worked for the original owners of the shop, Claire Morrill and Genevieve Janssen. I recall that one of my first jobs was to work on the bibliography of Claire Morrill's forthcoming book, A TAOS MOSAIC: Portrait of a New Mexico Village. The book was published in 1973 by the University of New Mexico Press and it was well received and became a regional bestseller. The majority of the photographs were by Laura Gilpin.

Laura Gilpin was a long time Taos Book Shop customer and always included the shop when she visited Taos. She was close friends of Genevieve and Claire, and they generously introduced me as a colleague to this famous photographer. When the book was debuted at TBS, there was a large advertised autograph party event and it seemed that everyone came to congratulate Claire, and to buy copies for Christmas gifts.

While working at the TBS I learned more about Laura Gilpin, and of other books that she authored and published with her stunning photographs. Quite by accident I learned of her own postcards. She lived on El Camino del Monte Sol in Santa Fe, and I would often visit her combined gallery and shop. There was always a basket of postcards on a table by the door, and I quickly caught on that even though these postcards were black and white, they were GREAT, and the price seemed right, and I would buy them every time I visited. Nothing lasts forever, and we moved to Wichita in 1974, and Laura Gilpin passed away in 1979. Those postcards I bought at her shop were New Mexico postcards. This contribution tells about an earlier series.

I can remember talking to "the Colorado Girls," Hazel Graves and Judy McDowell at the Wichita Postcard Club Show one year, and in conversation I spoke of Laura Gilpin. Maybe I had already acquired one of the Denver Camera Club postcards, but anyway it was Hazel and Judy who went to the Denver Public Library and found and copied the September 18, 1931 issue of The City Club Chronicle, and herein was the story of the "Fine Arts Committee Completes Post Card Project."

Maybe the earlier group of Laura Gilpin postcards were these from Denver, Colorado. This was a series of thirty-four postcards, and six of these were photographs by Laura Gilpin. It seems that it was "the Fine Arts Committee of the City Club who thought it would be a good idea to for them to assemble a group of well taken photographs of buildings, parks, statuary and views of the City of Denver, as well as Colorado mountain scenery, and to have them published as postal cards in order that a better quality of postal card might be available for purchase in Denver than has been on the market heretofore." They made contact with the Denver Camera Club and several photographer's images were selected for the series.

It may seem strange to postcard collectors to understand that even though these were taken by photographers the postcards are not real photo as we know them, but were printed in the very best photogravure process, and some were hand colored as well. (They are similar to but not quite the quality of Albertype postcards.) I have collected the series for many years and have some in both the sepia colored and hand colored format. The printing was done by the Beck Engraving Company of Philadelphia and their artists in residence did the hand coloring, using the coloring guide cards provided by the Fine Arts Committee. According to this article, 80,000 postcards were received in July, 1931, and they were placed on sale in thirty-four different shops in Denver, and three in Estes Park and Brooke Forest. They were sold individually and also in full sets of thirty-four, in either the sepia photogravure or in hand tinted photogravure.

DEL'S PAPER TREASURY

Real photo postcards, photography, printed postcards, posters, covers, broadsides.

All types of collectible paper goods. DEL's Paper Treasury will soon be offering an online auction of real photo postcards and photography. These auctions will be held online at their website delspapertreasury.com. Lyn Knight's 40 + years experience in building collections of U.S. currency and coins as well as 20 years in the auction business, helps make this a great opportunity to build your collection. Sales will be online, and catalogues will be available to subscribers. DON'T Miss This Opportunity.

1. Ebay, Ralph Bowman, thousands of listings, click on thepapergallery2 05.06
2. Playle, Ebay, Skurfan Postcards, state views by the thousands, click on /SKURFAN/ or seach seller id "skurfan" on ebay 05.06
3. Ebay, Hal Ottaway, Ebay , great postcards and other fabulous collectibles, click on taos 05.06
4. Ebay Ron from Holland, click on GLOBALHISTORY Views and Topicals Worldwide, every month 1000 plus cards in auction. Email EURODELTIOLOGY@wanadoo.nl 05.06
5. Ebay, sebagopaper great real photo postcards and other paper 05.06

Our friend Jim Mehrer conducts bimonthly Postal History Mail Bid Sales containing thousands of individually described covers and postcards. Jim also offers a wide selection of reference literature titles and storage supplies for collectors and dealers. To visit Jim Mehrer's Postal History, click HERE.

Dear Postcard Dealers and Collectors,I invite you to advertise in Postcard Collector, the best monthly publication, for 23 years, dedicated to your postcard business and collecting. I have all kinds of advertising options to fit your budget. Call or Email me at 1-800-482-7151 or Lenore.Howard@fwpubs.com , Postcard Collector

--

 Are you looking for a postcard show or stamp show near you? Visit Jim Mehrer's Show Calendar for Collectors of Stamps, Postal History and Postcards by clicking HERE.

-----

Looking for a series of Santa Fe, New Mexico postcards made with woodcut printing technique and identified by Gustave Baumann on the reverse side of the postcard. Hal Ottaway, PO Box 780282, Wichita KS 67278. hottaway@cox.net ... 06.06

-----

I'm always buying better U.S. Postal History material. What do you have for sale? Email Jim Mehrer at mehrer@postal-history.com ... 06.06

-----

WANTED TO BUY: PRE-1950 VINITA OKLAHOMA POSTCARDS AND OTHER ITEMS. Jim, jmtaylor@ipa.net....05.06

------

WANTED TO BUY: TEXANA, OLD EARLY TEXAS HISTORICAL ITEMS PHOTOS AND POSTCARDS. Wallace, rebltexn@comcast.net 05.06

----

FOR SALE: Newsletter Classifieds, see below, or email for details Classifieds@CourthouseSquare.net, Newsletter is Free, Classifieds are inexpensive. 05.06

----

WANTED TO BUY -  Veterinary Related Postcards & Trade Cards including the topics of animal freaks, animal welfare,  antivivisectionists, pet cemeteries, rendering, lice, insecticides, pesticides and parasitology.   Trenton Boyd:    BoydT@missouri.edu 07.06

---

BUYER: We are always buying collections and accumulations, all state views and topical postcards, also travel, photos, brochures, movie, Hollywood, props, costumes, stills, call Ralph, Paper Gallery, 1-760-749-9737, ralph@papergallery.com 05.06

----

WANTED "HALL PHOTO CO." CARDS

I am working on a book about the postcard photographer George E. Hall. He was in business from 1906-1918 and worked exclusively in Stone and Taney Counties, Missouri. He made approximately 900 real photo view cards of the Shepherd of the Hills area which includes the towns of Branson, Hollister, Galena and Reeds Spring. I am seeking examples of his work and would like to purchase what you have. If you have something and do not wish to sell then I would appreciate having a scan or a photocopy of the image. This would help document our checklist of his output. Contact: C. Trenton Boyd 09.06

 ---

 

 

 

Classifed Ad Introductory Offer:

$15 for 12 issues,. Maximum: 30 words. Ads and announcements should be related to postcards and other collectibles. Text is subject to our approval. Paypal payment is preferred. Want ads, For sale ads, announcements, etc. We reserve the right to refund and/or refuse ads. Email your ad to Classifieds@courthousesquare.net. To pay by Paypal use "Pay Now" button, or mail to Classifieds@CourthouseSquare, PO Box 399, Neosho MO 64850. We will confirm your ad before placing it (via email.) It will then appear in next 12 issues of the free newsletter "Postcard News from Courthouse Square," both in the email text and on the web page.

 Show Listings, Introductory Offer

$15 for 12 issues or until show dates, which ever is first. Text is subject to our approval. Paypal payment preferred. We reserve right to refund and/r refuse ads. Email your ad to ShowListing@Courthousesquare.net. To pay by paypal use "Pay Now" button on website or mail payment to showlisting@CourthouseSquare, PO Box 399, Neosho MO 64850. We will confirm your listing before placement. It will then appear in next 12 issues of the free newsletter "Postcard News from Courthouse Square," both in the email text and on the web page.

Before reproducing or quoting from Postcard News from Courthouse Square, credit and permissions will be required. Email us at PostcardNews@courthouseSquare.net with request. Thanks, Jim

  

Jim Taylor

Courthouse Square Antique Cards

PO Box 399

Neosho MO 64850

Member APS IFPD

Specializing in Mail Approvals, Sales, and Shows, of Antique Postcards,

Historical Photographs Paper Americana and Archival Supplies

Visit the front page of our Web site at:

http://www.CourthouseSquare.net

email: Postcards@CourthouseSquare.net

Helping build great postcard collections is our speciality...

• Postcard/Paper Show Schedule
• Postcard News from Courthouse Square, the Newsletter
• Rick Geary Check List/Order Form
• Mail Approval Order Form
• Credit Card Charge Authorization
• Postcard Net Price Sale
• What We Want To Buy
• Reference Materials, Books, Price Guides
• Archival Postcard/Paper Supplies for Sale
• Some Helpful Postcard Collector Information 

Email: jmtaylor@ipa.net.

Jim Taylor

PO Box 399

Neosho MO 64850

Visit our pages at Jim Mehrer's 'deltiology.com' site just click here

 ©2001-2005 JMT Enterprises. REPRODUCTION OF THE CONTENTS OF THIS PAGE, IN PART OR WHOLE, IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED.

This site was created and launched by Jim Taylor. For information email me at jmtaylor@ipa.net