Island
Islands on Vintage Postcards: Romance of Distant Shores
From tropical paradises to rugged northern outcrops, vintage postcards immortalized islands as symbols of adventure and escape. These miniature artworks (1880s1960s) reveal how tourism, colonialism, and printing technology shaped our perception of island life.
1. Iconic Island Postcards
🏝 European Escapes
Capri, Italy: Handtinted cards of the Blue Grotto (1900s) with added «electric blue» pigment
Santorini, Greece: Rare preWWI cards showing donkey paths before tourist crowds
Heligoland, Germany: Art Nouveau postcards of red cliffs before WWII bombing
🌴 Tropical Dreams
Ceylon (Sri Lanka): British colonial cards with tea pickers in «exotic» poses
Tahiti, French Polynesia: Postcards inspired by Gauguin’s paintings (often staged)
Bali, Indonesia: Dutch colonial cards of temple dancers (1920s30s)
❄️ Northern Wilderness
Kizhi, Russia: Prerevolution cards of wooden churches (colorized from B&W photos)
Iceland: Early aerial view postcards of geysers (1930s)
Svalbard: Soviet Arctic expedition cards with polar bears (1950s)
2. Artistic Evolution
🎨 1890s1910s:
Chromolithography with exaggerated colors (turquoise seas, pink sunsets)
Gold foil accents for «sun sparkle» effects
📸 1930s1950s:
Real photo postcards (RPPCs) of cruise ship tourists
Kitsch «tiki» motifs for tropical destinations
3. Notable Publishers
«Scherer & Nabholz» (Russian Empire: Crimea, Valaam)
«Swan» (UK: Colonial islands with racist caricatures)
«AZ» (France: Caribbean fantasies with palmthatched huts)
4. Why Collectors Love Them
✔ Lost worlds: Documented islands before mass tourism (e.g., Maldives in 1960s)
✔ Political history: Changing flags (Hong Kong, Puerto Rico)
✔ Printing rarities: Embossed palm trees, glitter «sand»
Where to Find Them
Island antique shops (Capri’s Carthusia, Hawaii’s Bailey’s)
Maritime auctions (Bonhams «Travel & Exploration»)
Excolony markets (Singapore’s Rodyk Street flea market)
Fun Fact: Early Madeira postcards hid the island’s steep cliffs – photographers shot only from flattering angles!
