Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs)

[ohmygato]

One of the research tools I've gotten really into lately is real photo postcards. Depending on a site's age, RPPCs may have been offered and preserved as photographic souvenirs. And these RPPCs can now be found in various markets and museums. I've found RPPCs on eBay, other auction sites, and also at my local history museum.

Here is one offered on eBay titled "1912 RPPC Santa Cruz California Rose Pergola Dedication, Women's Club" that shows a congregation of nice little old (creepy) ladies undoubtedly dropping hella coin and leaving them there for me to find.

Anyone care to take a guess at precisely where this is at?

Is anyone else using RPPCs as a research tool? What are some of the things you've discovered with them aside from the obvious?

 

[stetam]

Postcards are nice to look at but as far anything else not really that useful IMO. Btw, why would you call those ladies creepy?

 

[hoser]

I suppose there could be a lot of them that could have a place on them that may gain someone access to a site they never knew about.

 

[Iggyks]

Hey, how did the photographer get in the picture?

 

[cellrdwellr]

Dropping hella coin I've figured out geographical features of old parks by using them. Aerials can only show you so much, sometimes a first person POV can help put things into perspective if that makes sense. An extra tool for the tool kit, good tip! PS don't bring Tom to your spots, he's got more gold coins than scrooge McDuck

 

[cellrdwellr]

Hey, how did the photographer get in the picture?

Not only were people physically smaller back then, they were also insanely faster. This is why they call it "flash" photography

 

[rcornell]

Yes, I have used them to locate old sites in town. I usually post the pic on my local Facebook "Word of Mouth" page and the conversation takes off from there. Where was parking? Where was the concession stand? Oh, really... the Circus Carnival set up right there?! Best swimming area? Etc., Etc.

 

[Tom_in_CA]

Yes I've heard of persons using old post-cards to try to determine yesteryear picnic and camp locations. Because, like your present example, they sometimes made postcards that featured past (now defunct) recreational sites. Eg.: old mineral spring resorts, campgrounds, picnic parks, etc.... And if you can find one that's gone defunct (ceased to exist after, say 1920), then : You might have something to pin down.

Old post cards can be found on Ebay, for example. Just type in key word of the city(s) that you have in mind, and sometimes an interesting one, like the one you have here, will be found.

 

[airbornebob]

I went to my local library and they had old photos of our town, so I took pics of the pics... this is the park that I found my most recent Merc, at the red x

 

[vmc1161]

I went to my local library and they had old photos of our town, so I took pics of the pics... this is the park that I found my most recent Merc, at the red x
View attachment 609612

Wow, they put a red X on the ground that made it easy for you. Good going. i’m going to keep an eye out for red exes on the ground from now on.