Maryville Sanitary Swimming Pool – Part RPPC Postcard Collection (colorized version)

Note about RPPC Postcards

Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs) are authentic, continuous-tone photographs developed onto postcard-backed paper, popular from roughly 1900 to the 1930s. Unlike printed postcards, they lack dot patterns under magnification. Originating with Kodak in 1902–1907, they often depict unique, local, or candid scenes, making them highly collectible.
Key Characteristics and History

Definition: An actual photograph printed on photographic paper with a divided or undivided postcard back.

Origins: The format took off in 1902 when Kodak introduced special photo paper, and in 1903, the No. 3A Folding Pocket Kodak allowed users to take postcard-sized photos.
Distinction: Under magnification, RPPCs show smooth, continuous tones, whereas printed postcards reveal a “dot” pattern (halftone).

Popularity: They were used to document local events, street scenes, portraits, disasters, and daily life, particularly before the 1934 introduction of color printing (CMYK) reduced their popularity.