Hand tinted questions

[chibuya]

First of all... does everyone recommend Mashburns book to help identify postcard processes such as real picture, albumen, hand tinted etc., or is that book specifically for identifying prices? I am interested in obtaining a book that will educate me in the different types of PCs. I have googled hand tinted PCs but I can't seem to find much on how to indentify them... most of the hits were only items for sale, not much educational information, so I have posted several pictures for your expert knowledge.... This first item I am guessing is a family picture. It reads "Lydia (?) picking violets May 16, 1902. L.S.B." I'm not sure, but this appears to be "hand tinted" by the original photographer or owner. But then, it also looks like it could have also been painted in with felt markers at a much later date. What are your thoughts? Not sure of the value here... Then I have this one that I'm almost sure is hand tinted because of the the consistancty of colors, pink and yellow throughout. But then there are these two... because I am unsure of how hand tinteds are produced (any info from you folks would be much appreciated!) , I am unable to identify them... the first pic below looks like a possible photo that has been colorized... then the second looks like basicly color art work... (Hand tinted photo ?) (Not a photo - artwork only?) I'm surprised there isn't more info on the web other than the basics in how to identify PCs. If you can direct me to better links than the basics or a very good book, I would appreciate it! Stacey

[pixiamom]

My guess is that all of them are hand tinted. When in doubt, you can use the term tinted instead. Postcard #3 is really special IMHO! Jane

[care--a--seller]

I would agree with Jane in everything but the tap dancer one(awesome card by the way). That one appears to be a color lithograph or colored offset press. And the first one might be felt marker, I'd have to see the texture to venture a guess. I've been trying to study the different PC coloring processes since last year and so far this is what I have come up with. 1.Hand colored: a process by which already printed matter (usually offset press) was colored by hand using a special type of water color done in an assembly line(these tend to be rarer as ''hand coloring'' was abolished in the late 50's as the lead in the quick drying paint was killing the workers who painted it. Will usually say ''hand colored''. If it doesn't say that there is no other way to tell than to slightly dampen a colored area and see if it smudgees which will ruin the card.) 2.Hand tinted: The process by which negatives of real photos were colored by hand then mass developed and printed on PC cardstock. (this can usually be seen in rppc cards with a glossy finish and ''spotty'' coloring. E.g. it looks like someone took a marker and colored it by hand at one point. These are not quite as rare as hand colored and can be seen in photos as well as pcs) 3. color lithograph or color offset press: a process of which I know nothing about except that it is used on non rppcs is characterized by little dots of color seen under a magnifying glass and was by far and away the most common form of color postcard production. 🙂 And that most white border colored cards are a form of this. 4.real color photo postcards: good luck. There is a really good book that explains the use of lithography in postcards and goes into detail in the coloration of postcards in one of its chapters. I disagree with the rest of the book, but the section on the history of postcards is worth reading. The book is called ''Delivering Views'' by Howard Woody. The first chapter delves into postcard production. My library had to order it up from L.A. for me but it was worth it. The library by the way oftentimes has a wealth of information Google doesn't(or at least isn't found until the 9 zillionth page) If I am incorrect about the lithographic, color offset printing process please inform me as I am trying to find out more aout that stuff myself. Good luck with your postcards Stacey. Catherine

[care--a--seller]

P.S. Looks like ''Lydia'' might be watercolor.

[pixiamom]

Catherine was right. Looking at the tap dancers, I see that it is from Detroit Photographic Co or Detroit Publishing Co. (make sure DPC is in your title) which I don't think had hand tinted cards. I disagree that hand tinted or hand colored cards have to be real photos. I use that term for cards that have been printed by any method and then have color applied by hand. Albertype cards come to mind which were not real photos but were frequently hand tinted. Jane

[dmhcollectibles]

absolutely, there are a ton of Albertype hand colored cards that are not Real Photos.

[dmhcollectibles]

oops and no, I like Mashburn's book and use it almost every day, but imho it doesn't do a good job discussing different types of printing processes. Diane

[riverboatqueen51]

Great information thanks Catherine! Joyce

[riverboatqueen51]

I don't know about that first postcard, it looks like it might have been done by either a new worker or was one of those "Loving Hands at Home" projects. Joyce

[chibuya]

Thanks everyone for your help! And thank you Catherine for taking the time to post that helpful info. I'll be running to the library today to see if I'm able to find the book you mentioned. Stacey