The mystery of the "same sky" postcards

TL;DR

A collector discovers identical skies in thousands of postcards.

Transcript

This is James Brouwer. He lives in British Columbia, Canada. He’s a collector. Of records. Photographs. Vintage picture frames. JAMES BROUWER: All sorts of visual imagery and ephemera.... He also collects postcards. They’re in these boxes. BROUWER: And I'm sort of obsessive about this in my collecting. BROUWER: I like that sort of visual arrangemen... Read More

Key Insights

• James Brouwer, a collector from British Columbia, amassed over 11,000 postcards, noticing a recurring sky pattern in many.
• The postcards with identical skies were mostly from Dexter Press, a major publisher during the chrome postcard era.
• Chrome postcards, popular from the 1940s, were produced using Kodachrome film, known for its glossy finish and vibrant colors.
• Dexter Press possibly used stock sky images to enhance visual appeal or due to their gang printing process.
• The identical skies in postcards create a unique visual effect, transforming mundane images into something significant.
• James's collection was inspired by artists like Andy Warhol and Bernd and Hilla Becher, focusing on form and repetition.
• The mystery of why Dexter Press used the same skies remains unsolved, but it adds an intriguing layer to postcard history.
• Despite the mystery, James values the aesthetic impact of the repeated skies over the reasons behind their existence.

Questions & Answers

Q: What initially drew James Brouwer to collecting postcards?

James Brouwer was drawn to collecting postcards due to his interest in visual imagery and ephemera. He appreciated the aesthetic arrangement of similar images in different contexts, which he found fascinating. His collection includes various themes, such as old age homes and advertising, all neatly organized in his home.

Q: What is the significance of the same-sky postcards in James's collection?

The significance of the same-sky postcards lies in their visual impact. The repeated sky imagery across different postcards creates an uncanny effect, transforming ordinary images into something unique. For James, the aesthetic appeal of these repeated skies outweighs the mystery of why they were used.

Q: Why were chrome postcards largely overlooked by collectors initially?

Chrome postcards were initially overlooked by collectors because they were considered junky and easily available. By the time James started collecting in the 1980s, these postcards, known for their glossy finish and vibrant colors, were abundant in flea markets and could be purchased cheaply, making them less desirable to collectors.

Q: How did Dexter Press contribute to the postcard industry during the chrome era?

Dexter Press was a major contributor to the postcard industry during the chrome era, known for its large-scale production capabilities. They pioneered the 'Natural Color' printing process and used gang printing to produce high volumes of postcards. Their use of stock sky images added a distinctive aesthetic to their products.

Q: What role did gang printing play in the production of same-sky postcards?

Gang printing played a crucial role in the production of same-sky postcards by allowing Dexter Press to efficiently produce large quantities of postcards. This process involved using stock images, like skies, to streamline production and maintain visual consistency, which inadvertently led to the repeated sky imagery noticed by collectors like James.

Q: How did James Brouwer's collection draw inspiration from the art world?

James Brouwer's collection drew inspiration from the art world, particularly from artists like Andy Warhol and Bernd and Hilla Becher. He admired their focus on form, sequencing, and repetition, which influenced his approach to arranging his postcards, emphasizing the visual impact of repeated imagery.

Q: What was the possible reason behind Dexter Press using stock sky images?

The possible reason behind Dexter Press using stock sky images could be to enhance the visual appeal of the postcards. The consistent use of vibrant skies might have been intended to enliven the images and create a signature look for their products, although the exact reason remains speculative.

Q: What impact did the repeated sky imagery have on the perception of the postcards?

The repeated sky imagery had a significant impact on the perception of the postcards, transforming them from mundane images into a cohesive visual narrative. This repetition created a typology that transcended the individual postcards, adding an artistic and mysterious dimension to the collection, as appreciated by collectors like James.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• James Brouwer, a Canadian collector, discovered identical skies in his vast postcard collection, primarily from Dexter Press, a major chrome-era postcard publisher. These postcards, made with vibrant Kodachrome film, often featured stock sky images, creating a unique visual effect when viewed collectively.

• Dexter Press, once a leading postcard producer, used a gang printing process, possibly leading to the use of stock skies for aesthetic consistency. This repeated imagery intrigued James, who sees the visual impact as more significant than the reasons behind the identical skies.

• Inspired by artists like Andy Warhol, James's collection emphasizes form and repetition, transforming ordinary postcards into a cohesive visual narrative. Despite the unsolved mystery of the skies, the collection highlights the intriguing history and artistry of chrome-era postcards.