My Thoughts
Sep 1, 2010 | Posted in Blog, Designs
A Vintage Postcard Tour of Beantown, Boston 1905
There always seems to be a variety of postcards to pick through in most of the stationary or souvenir store when you travel. For just a dollar or two, I found myself collecting them. Especially collecting vintage postcard, which you can find through antique or museum stores. I got this Boston vintage postcards pocketbook set from a historic house museum I visit in Beacon Hill. Boston. Each card is a portrait of history in time. It describe the time period and even the latest fashion trends or architectures. It's also lots of fun to go through them and discover the historical perspective as well.
So here are some of the Boston postcards from 1905-1920 that I scan. Most of them were hand colored, because this was before the cameras time. However, this makes each postcard an individual work of art. scroll through them and I bet you recognize most of the sites on these vintage postcards, Enjoy!
(All print belong to "A Postcard Tour of Beantown" by Earl Brechlin with John Bishop)
Oliver Wendell Holmes Called Boston "The Hub of The Universe" Shown
The Hotel Pieroni & The Old State House in Boston
Quincy Market & Paul Revere's House
Boston Market, most famous market place
T wharf, Boston
The first underwater tunnel of its type built in America
Empty subway scene at 1914
Tremont Street known as today's downtown crossing
Locatd Betwen Washinton Street and City Hall Avenue, Pie Alley was a favorite haunt of job printers and newsboys.
Ahh Fenway in 1912
Swan boats at Boston Public Garden
Boston Common, a neoclassical design
Boston known as the beantown.
boston, Design, postcards, vintage
12 comments
A Vintage Postcard Tour of Beantown, Boston 1905
kens_thought Says:
Sep 1st, 2010 07:07 | Reply
wow,didn’t know that you collect postcards, especially vintage ones.
“hand colored”, you mean all those postcards were all hand color? Doesn’t that means that special precaution must be taken to keep them?
Anyway, they all very nice. It’s not just about keeping them as postcards but part of the history it protraited as well.
swgraphic Says:
Sep 2nd, 2010 18:49 | Reply
Hi Ken, I'm glad you like this post. Postcard can bring back so much memory just like any other stuff you buy form the trip. Especially the history of the place. I love old stuff, and I don't know why... maybe is a designer's thing. haha S
Verity Says:
Sep 4th, 2010 00:42 | Reply
What a beautiful collection. I love old postcards too. I collect postcards, but of a different nature 
. My collections revolves around tacky, hideous, ugly or just plain boring postcards. I started sending them to my boyfriend when I was away in America and since then it has become a bit of a hobby of ours (and some of my other friends and family) to fine the worst postcards and send them
swgraphic Says:
Sep 11th, 2010 03:24 | Reply
Thank you Verity. hahah I think the point of postcard is to send to your family or love one. They don't have to be vintage looking, it can be funny or tacky, it's just a way to show your love over a distance. That's how it got started before the email time (1800s). lolz
Ryan Says:
Sep 11th, 2010 16:32 | Reply
These are incredible! I also love old Postcards and Photographs, especially of places that I have visited. I have been too Boston too many times to count, and it’s really interesting to see how things have changed over time. The Swan Boats still look relatively the same though!
swgraphic Says:
Sep 20th, 2010 07:17 | Reply
Hi Ryan, Glad you like these postcards. I love them because you can compare before and now of the places/location. and I agree the swam boats looks about the same. :) -Sarah
vintage clothing store Says:
Jan 7th, 2011 07:06 | Reply
I like these postcards ! They are beautiful and full of artistic conception !Thanks very much for your share!
David Says:
Jul 5th, 2011 03:09 | Reply
I like the hand colored cards very much! If you ever tried to do any hand-tinting you know it is an art form by itself! Johan Albert Seaford was an artist who worked in around Boston and made dozens of drawings collected as photogravures, sepia toned, of his favorite buildings and cityscapes around 1915. Many of he building he drew are still around but some have passed into history only preserved by his art works. I was hunting around looking for more picture of old Boston when I found this site! Thanks for showing these amazing postcards!
Vivianne Says:
Jul 11th, 2011 18:28 | Reply
What great postcards! It is amazing how busy Boston was in 1905. Great historical finds – thanks for sharing.
