Books: The Stamp of Fantasy

In the days before Photoshop effectively took all the fun out of trick photography, the photographic postcard was a treasure trove of visual wonders, the only real outlet for so-called ‘special effects’ that the public had ever seen. Drawing on a vast collection of postcard ephemera, The Stamp of Fantasy presents an intriguing selection of imagery, from Surrealist flights of fancy to those staples of seaside photobooths, the painted comedy backdrop.

Click here to see more from the book.

Sex and seduction are never far from the minds of these early exponents of collage art; interspersing studio shots with salacious pictures has always been a staple of the commercial photographer. The book also delves into artistic movements proper, and the role the unique piece of mail art played in disseminating ideas and aesthetics around Europe.

5 October 2008 | Art