Lot #785: Four "Real Photograph" Postcards - Eastman Kodak Co. - Couple Dancing (x2) - Mustached Man in Captain's Hat - Old Man in Cowboy Hat - No Stamp

Four "Real Photograph" Postcards. All four postcards are real photographs on paper from Eastman Kodak Company (The cards display the "E K C" logo). No Stamp. No Postmark. Never Postally used. Messages or captions on The of four cards: "Always Billy and Pat #1" (Couple Dancing), "Best Wishes Paul and Norma #5" (Couple Dancing), and "Speed Derby 1950" (Mustached Man in Captain's Hat). Last Picture is Old Man in Suspenders and Large Cowboy Hat. First two pictures seem to be at a a "sock-hop". The "EKC" logo on the reverse is the hallmark of the Eastman Kodak Company. This specific stamp (usually found in the stamp box area) was used on Kodak’s "Azo" or "Velox" photographic paper. The "EKC" stamp (with all four corners being squares) was most commonly used between 1939 and 1950. This aligns perfectly with the "Speed Derby 1950" caption, placing these cards at the very end of the RPPC era before color "chrome" cards took over the market. The two dancing cards, with the "Sock-Hop" scenes featuring Billy, Pat, Paul, and Norma capture the post-WWII youth culture. A "sock-hop" was a typical high school or community dance of the 1940s and 50s, so named because dancers were often asked to remove their shoes to protect the gymnasium floor. The numbering on the dance cards is likely not the dance results, but possibly the photographer's numbering: The "#1" and "#5" notations suggest these were part of a small "run." In 1950, a local photographer or a student with a darkroom could print photos directly onto postcard-backed paper. Billy and Pat likely had a dozen of these printed to hand out to friends as keepsakes. Dimensions: 9 mm x 14 mm Pickup category timeslot {A}