Your cart is currently empty!
Unlike today where we can communicate with others instantly anywhere in the world, in the recent past letter writing was the main form of communication. Before telephones became commonplace in homes, and at a time when traveling was an exhausting, time consuming practice, letters, postcards and telegrams served as the most effective way to communicate.
Telegrams were generally considered expensive for everyday communication so letters and postcards were used to share news, events, announcements and so on. Consequently letters give us an incredible insight into the everyday lives of people and the impact of local, national and even international events. We can learn about the use of common everyday language, attitudes, values, diet, travel, weather patterns, the price of goods, education, the topics are limitless.
A passion for all things ephemera
Researching and transcribing paper items that give a glimpse into the lives of everyday people in the past. Items designed to be thrown away can tell us details about the thoughts, feelings and life struggles of those living at the time they were produced.
Letters, correspondence and Telegrams
Correspondence was the main method of communication for centuries. Letters between friends and loved ones give us an insight into the thoughts, feeling and lives of everyday and the lives they lived. Social history comes alive through these types of communications.
Postcards and trade cards
Postcards and trade cards, another way to communicate both personally and professionally allowed the sender to send both pictures and information to the recipient. As photography became accessible to everyone, Real Photo Postcards made it possible for people to send personal photos to loved ones.
Photos, cabinet cards and tin types
From the earliest types of photos taken to mark important events and celebrations, photographs can tell us a great deal about the lives of people in them. Clothing, hair styles, buildings, animals, vehicles and homes all give us clues to how people lived their daily lives.
Advertising, newspapers and magazines
These types of ephemera tell us about the popular culture at the time of their production. Foods people ate, clothing they wore and goods they bought show us what were popular items and how much they cost. Newspapers cover events that were important to the readers of the day.
Books and texts
Books and texts give us an idea of vocabulary used, life styles and current events happening at the time of their writing.
Tickets, receipts and bank checks
Typically designed for short term use, these types of ephemera share snippets of information about daily life.
Join 900+ subscribers
Stay in the loop with everything you need to know.