Real-photo postcards (sometimes called RPPCs) are the result of developing a negative onto photo paper with a pre-printed postcard backing. Classic real-photo cards feature a variety of subjects, from mundane small- town street views to images of animals to photos that captured important political moments or terrifying natural disasters.

Though the first documented photo postcard was mailed in 1899, the style wasn’t firmly established until Eastman Kodak began selling Velox photo paper with a pre-printed postcard back in 1902. The following year, Kodak released its No. 3A Folding Pocket camera, which used film specifically designed for postcard-size prints. Amateur photographers were now able to have their own images printed directly onto postcard paper and send them through the mail. The affordability and ease of producing these new photo postcards quickly made traditional cabinet cards obsolete.

The vast majority of real-photo postcards were created in black and white, although some images were hand colored after printing. As camera technology improved and manufacturers ...

Since it was expensive to have additional descriptive information printed on the reverse side of each postcard, many RPPCs made by smaller studios have no text to identify their images. Alternatives to printed text included using a company's handstamp or embossed mark, or exposing text directly onto the photograph’s negative.

The introduction of the CMYK color printing process in 1934 destroyed the popularity of real-photo postcards; though printed using lithography techniques, the resulting photochrome cards resembled color photographs. In 1939, Union Oil became one of the first companies to give out free photochrome cards at its service stations, and the style quickly caught on. Large corporations took over most postcard production, since the photochrome printing methods were easily mass produced and required no retouching, as many real-photo images did.

While photochrome cards featuring images printed on glossy paper are often mistaken for real-photo cards, the two can typically be distinguished by looking under a magnifying glass. Real-photo postcards are recognizable by their smooth gradation of color and form, whereas photochrome printing techniques created shapes from miniscule dot patterns.

All genres of RPPCs are collectible, though some particularly popular subjects include follies or pinups; sports teams; important historical events or expositions; ocean liners, airplanes, or zeppelins; images of soldiers or wartime; and portraits of children. Photographic postcards showing individual people are most desirable if they display specific occupations, mechanical equipment, uniforms, or toys.

About our sources | Got something to add?

▼ Expand to read the full article ▼

Interviews & Articles

Total Immersion Collecting: Baptism Photos

Collecting anything is fun—somehow any group of objects always equals more than the sum of its parts. Personally, I prefer groups … [more]

The Bromance, Found in Vintage Photography

Blogger Maria Popova, who runs the wonderfully eclectic Brain Pickings site, unearthed this gem of a book, "Dear Friends: American… [more]

Walker Evans, Preeminent Photographer and Passionate Postcard Collector

In 1994, I had the great pleasure of acquiring the complete archive of Walker Evans for the Metropolitan Museum. The archive is qu… [more]

19th-Century Photographs, from Daguerreotypes to Cartes de Visites

I’ve always been interested in antiques. As a kid, I collected a variety of stuff – fossils, rocks, minerals, natural history stuf… [more]

Daile Kaplan of Swann Auction Galleries on Collecting 20th Century Photographs

Swann, which is New York City’s oldest specialty auction house, was founded in the late 1940s as an antiquarian book house. In the… [more]

When Postcards Were the Social Network

I worked for 35 years as a reference librarian with the Madison Public Library and I just got interested in Madison’s history thro… [more]

Attending the Theatre, Via Postcards

Andreas Praefcke (Ravensburg, Germany) collects postcards of old and new theatre buildings worldwide. His complete collection can … [more]

From Ambrotypes to Stereoviews, 150 Years of Photographs

We both come from families that had collections and we both had collections as children. Jack lost his when his grandmother threw … [more]

▼ Expand this section

Best of the Web (“Hall of Fame”)

Carthalia

Carthalia

Andreas Praefcke's postcard collection of theatres and concert halls worldwide. Showcases 3700 images of over 1810 … [read review or visit site]

Tall Tale Postcards

Tall Tale Postcards

Don't let this one get away from you. This 'unbelievable' collection, from the Wisconsin Historical Society, featur… [read review or visit site]



Clubs & Associations: Postcards

Other Great Reference Sites: Postcards

Top eBay Auctions

Showing 60. See all 539 by  highest bidmost watchedcompleted
Hong Kong 1920's B/w Real Photo Causeway Bay Tramway Station3 Early Real Photo Postcards Barkhamsted Conn Ct C1906 Old Bridge Post Office +Great Real Photo Greeting Comic Topical Antique Postcard Lot 650 Pcs Rms Titanic- White Star Line- Rare Real Photo Postcard-launch-may 31, 1911Vtg Antique Postcard Rppc Paisano Pass Marfa Texas Landscape Ford Model T Ss Olympic- White Star Line- Real Photo Postcard Leaving Belfast-1911Rppc Durham Ct Merriam Manufacturing Co. On Main Street10 Beautiful Vintage Post Cards With Real Hair Real PhotoHong Kong 1920's-30's B/w Rppc The Central Des Voeux Rd. C. Tram (4)1910 Farmington Conn Ct Real Photo Postcard - Landmark BuildingMich Rppc Hancock Michigan Copper Strike Mng Real Photo Postcard VmMich Rppc Hancock Michigan Copper Strike Real Photo Postcard VmVintage Rppc Of Kernville California From The Air (robert A. Parker Studio) Awesome Rppc: Film Strip Of A Gal, 1900s-10s1905 Rppc Postcard Lake Erie Island Turtle Island Monroe County Michigan & LucasBaseball Maggie Riley $10,000 Wonder Girl Devil Dogs & Nationals Real Photo 1910Lot 10 Rppc Carrollton Il Postcard Town View Post Office Church Image Xb4694Rare Rppc Real Photo Post Card School Windsor Mills Quebec Canada Masse FreresEarly 20thc Model T Ford Car Rug Salesman Car Real Photo Postcard Wilkes BarreRppc Photo Postcard Main Street Hampton Iowa Taylors Shop Model T Theater Busy!Rare 3 Different Pre 1919 Rppc 19 Motorcycles Group Club Best Detail No ReserveRare 1905 Real Photo Postcard Mississippi A & M College Summer Normal Starkvill Bishop California Main Street Inyo County Rare Old Real Photo Postcard ViewMich Rppc Copper Mining Michigan Real Photo Postcard FeTom Mix And Zack Miller 101 Ranch Ponca City , Oklahoma RppcA+ Usa News Stand - Postcards Magazines Cigars Rppc Real Photo Postcard1909 Milwaukee Rd C.m.st.p & P Williamsfield Il Depot - Train Great Details RppcFrench Nude The Posing Girl Original 1920's Real Photo Postcard RisqueVintage Real Photo Postcard Stratford,conn. Railroad Depot Circa 1907Taft, California 4th Of July Ca1913 Real Photo PostcardTasmania Australia - Hobart Collins St C1910 - Real Photo PcRppc Ny, Adirondack Guide Bert Dobson, Card Is Signed By Bert Dobson Early Lot 2 House Of David Baseball Team Portrait 2 Real Photo Postcards RppcReal Photo Postcard Baseball Player Walter Johnson, Weiser, IdahoY.p.t. Busses Leaving U.p. Station, West Yellowstone, Montana - Rppc, Circa 194050's Hong Kong Aberdeen Hand-tint Real Photo Postcard50's Hong Kong Des Voeux Road C Hand-tint Real Photo Postcard1918 Rppc Photo Postcard Hollywood Auto Transfer & Storage Trucks Autocar Ca. Rppc Occult Group Of Costume Witches W Jack O Lanterns Vtg Photo Halloween3 Early Real Photo Postcards Barkhamsted Conn Ct Ca1908-10 Sawmill School HouseRppc Photo Postcard Canfield North Dakota Rare View Of The Other Canfield N.d.Rppc Capitola, Ca Lagoon, Bath House Swim Meet? Santa Cruz County 19242 Rppc San Anselmo Ca Real Photo Postcards City Hall & Library Old Auto Xb4709Circus / Carnival Sideshow Freak Rppc Real Photo PostcardRppc Postcard C.m.&st.p Train Depot Grain Elevator Water Tank Ruthven Ia IowaNazareth Pa Collom & Post Co Silk Mill C1910 Real Photo PostcardKlm Dutch Airlines Real Photo Postcard Modified F-viia At Karachi In 1925Rppc Postcard Main Street Kewaskum Wi WisconsinRppc - Prairie Depot, Ohio Post Office, Freeport House Hotel & Livery 1909Se Ypsilanti Mi Rppc Circa 1910 Fella & Wagon Outside 4th Ward Prospect School!Fiji Islands, Suva, The Triangle (1930s) Rppc1909 Erie Motorcycle Real Photo Postcard Farmer On Bike W/ Barn Rppc Unused1950 Real Photo Postcard Tug Elcoe Works Log Boom Castlegar British ColumbiaHong Kong - Kowloon Railway Station - Real Photo Mexicana De Aviacion Airlines )?) Ford Trimotor Real Photo PostcardVintage Photo Pc Little Girls Girl Dancing W/ Boy In The Forest Rppc Npg *1906*200 Vintage Old Real Photo Rppc Postcards Lot Post CardGreat Rppc Real Photo Postcard Westminster Ave Vancouver TrolleyKlm Dutch Airlines Real Photo Postcard 1st Fokker F-viia H-nact 1925 Airliners G38/sm73/ju52/dc3/f22 @ Stockholm Airport Sweden Real Photo Postcard