The three main sections of the archive

(Over 10,000 cards listed)

A checklist of the postcard publisher in alphabetical order

A priced and illustrated catalogue

Individual checklists of postcards - arranged by publisher

Current Project

South African goldmines on old postcards

Latest site update December 2011

The recent history of the South African Picture Postcard Archive

As a former stamp collector the idea of conducting my hobby without the use of a full-colour priced catalogue would have seemed ridiculous. Many such catalogues are produced each year - ranging in scope from those covering the whole world in a highly simplified format to others covering the issues of a single country in great detail.

It therefore came as a great surprise to me to discover that no catalogue had been produced covering the activities of the many postcard publishers who had been in business in South Africa in the early part of the twentieth century. Starting in the 1980's the now defunct Southern Africa Postcard Research Group (SAPRG) under the leadership of Aston (Archie) Atkinson published a number of preliminary checklists of publishers and the cards they had produced. It soon became clear that these lists, although admirable starting points, were far from complete and it was for this reason that I proposed the compilation and subsequent publication of the South African Picture Postcard archive.

Initially a small number of paper-based copies of the archive were printed - but the unviable economics of small print-runs coupled with the need to update the lists as new information came to hand meant that a new approach was required.

Feedback from users indicated that my previous decision not to include any indication of value was a mistake and the archive does now include my initial thoughts on postcard values. I have also included colour illustrations and a checklist of postcard publishers - this is also in line with the majority views expressed by colleagues.