ATLANTIC SOUTH. Accordion Postcard Set Folder, Souvenir, National Cemetery, c. 1930s.
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A solemn, humbling, and powerful postcard folder, this set of prints from Arlington National Cemetery contains moving visuals: the sweeping scenes of white headstones marking the final resting place of fallen patriots. Given the many references to “The World War”—i.e. World War I—we place the time of its printing in the late 1930s. There are many references to the turn-of-the-century Spanish-American War, including the mast of the U.S.S. Maine whose sinking in the harbor of Havana (result of a boiler explosion, not Spanish saboteurs), was nonetheless the action that began the short-lived conflict. Another note from that era is a rendering of the Confederate Memorial. The late 1890s was a time of widespread “national reconciliation,” sectional unity over 30 years following the close of the Civil War being an important strategy to gin up support, and recruits, the nation over for the Spanish-American war effort. Long controversial for its having been situated on America’s most hallowed ground, the memorial was finally removed in 2023. One final note is the usual 9 back-and-front cards are split into two per card on the back (16 total) + a map of Arlington National Cemetery at the time … Postcard accordion folders became ubiquitous in step with the popularity of motorized tourist travel. The first postcard folders trace to the early 20th-century. But it was in the mid-1930s when these fold-out mailers gained brilliant color. From that point through into the 1960s, and by way of far-flung post offices the nation over, a flood of these postcard folders found their way to friends and family from tourists taking in the diverse sites and attractions all across North America. The sharp commercial-art style illustration indicative of mid-century America, with covers printed on a tough linen paper, makes the souvenir sets of especially the late 1930s-1950s pop over half a century later—full-color photographs having arrived to these postcard folders by the 1960s … [Condition: As is often the case, the hard outer cover has not been treated kindly over the years, with considerable scratching, bent corners, and a few small rips including the back cover tab. But as is usual, the cover did its job: the 26 interior visuals (again, 8 more than the usual set) in fine shape for 70+ years of age.]
Condition: Used Good. Local / Regional Attractions. 6.25" wide x 4.25" high
