The Rumsey & Co. Picture Postcard Handbook 1908-1950s
Antique Postcards from a Prolific Canadian Publisher
By Michael Smith
Edited by Roger Miller
Entering the postcard trade in 1908, the forward-thinking Toronto stationer Rumsey & Co. quickly positioned itself at the forefront of Canada’s postcard industry. By partnering with two of the world’s most prominent postcard printers in Germany and Britain, the firm gained access to superior printing and international distribution networks.
Following the First World War (1914–1918), Rumsey & Co. established new printing relationships in North America and expanded its production significantly. From 1910 through the 1950s, the company became one of Canada’s largest and most important producers of real photo postcards.
This deluxe handbook presents the full story of Rumsey & Co.’s remarkable contribution to Canadian postcard history.
Inside, readers will find:
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A comprehensive and carefully researched history of the Rumsey & Co. business.
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Listings for more than 4,300 postcards, including classic view cards, real photo postcards (RPPCs), fancy framed issues, novelty series and other specialty productions.
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Over 1,000 postcard illustrations, each reproduced in the card’s original colour of issue for accurate identification and reference.
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Three detailed appendices containing additional research material, including illustrations of all known Rumsey & Co. postcard back types, salesman’s samples and related ephemera.
Book Details
8.5 x 11 inches
Laminated soft cover
Spiral bound for ease of use
280 pages
Extensively illustrated throughout
Printed entirely in full colour
Meticulously researched and richly illustrated, this handbook is an essential reference for collectors of Canadian postcards and a significant contribution to the study of early 20th-century publishing in Canada.
