Tracing history of picture postcards in India! ‘Picturesque India' sets to reveal unique journey of postcards amid 20th century

News Bharati    02-Jul-2019
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New Delhi, July 2: A Postcard, that was introduced in India in July 1879 for a quarter anna has a unique story to reveal around the book named ‘Picturesque India: A Journey in Early Picture Postcards (1896 - 1947)’, describing its evolution, postal delivery and transportation systems in the backdrop of the development of Indian cities in the early 20th century.
 
Fascinating the readers, the book consists of a total of 550 postcards which visually document its growth, while also capturing evidences of earlier times. “The product was proved to be a huge hit recording an annual sale of 26 million cards within the country by 1883”, says the book.

 
"Picture postcards showing Indian subjects and landscapes were being produced in Austria, Germany, Luxembourg and England during the 1870s and 1880s. Among the earliest were the Austrian and German lithographed series with the 'Gruss aus' or 'Greetings From' title”, it adds.

 
 
Publisher Niyogi Books describes these picture postcards as attractive and nostalgic record of the topography of the time and untapped resource for those interested in the evolution of cities, town planning, architecture, ethnography, sociology or, simply, travel.
 
The book is authored by Sangeeta and Ratnesh Mathur, who have an extensive collection of picture postcards, lithographs, coins, princely state insignia and weapons among other possessions.
 
 
"There were some other early lithographed picture postcards with Indian subjects being used within Europe. One example of this is the classic 'Tiger hunt of elephant back' picture, titled 'Indien', issued by Dess Company”, said the authors.

 
The book also reveals the making of the new capital, with its secretariat and administrative buildings, churches, hotels and residential quarters that came up with the increasing population of European residents that became a popular subject in picture postcards of Delhi. Brief notes on India's leading picture postcard publishing studios and their photographers have also been put together at the end of the book.