real photo post card (RPPC), post card on photo paper, 14x9 cm, AZO hallmark on the back
Real photo post cards are not just inkjet-printed images. They are real photographs on photographic paper, capturing moments frozen in time. Mailed with handwritten letters, addresses and postage stamps on the back, real photo post cards (RPPCs) offer a unique glimpse into the past.
The process of creating RPPC cards was both time-consuming and expensive. Photographers had to take a photo, develop the film, make a negative, and then transfer the positive image to postcard paper. The process often took several days and required great technical skill and attention to detail. Despite the challenges, RPPCs became increasingly popular as technology developed. The popularity of RPPCs gradually declined with advances in printing (such as halftone printing) and changes in photographic processes.
On the reverses of RPPCs from well-known companies, you can find postcard paper brand names of the time such as VELOX, SOLIO, CYKO, AZO and ARTUR. These designations identify some of the most popular brands of photographic paper used between 1900 and 1930 and help date the objects. The aging process, or silvering, visible at the edges of the image and in dark areas, is a strong indicator of RPPC's age.
