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Thursday, November 28, 2024
Postcard Design Contest
November 28, 2024
The One and Only
Postcard Design Contest
Published on
When the history of contests is written – properly – it will reveal a complex connection between human potential and societal values. Contests have a rich history, rooted in ancient times and cultural practices. From the Olympic Games in Greece, which began in 776 BC, to literary competitions in the Renaissance, contests served as platforms for showcasing talent and highlighting human achievement.
When the best intentions are arranged on a solid foundation, a contest invites participation by those who cherish competition. Such events were often organized to honor deities or commemorate significant historical moments. But each one featured an individual’s contribution to the whole.
Philosophically, contests raise intriguing questions about fairness and the idea of striving for excellence.
In more recent times, contests have evolved into a variety of formats, there are talent shows, academic competitions like spelling-bees, and sports tournaments, each with unique implications for participant experience. And, there is usually an interested audience – could this be a fringe factor about contests that make the TV show Jeopardy one of America’s favorites?
Competitions in the postcard collecting hobby happen all the time. Most collecting clubs have competitions as part of their regular events, be they monthly card contests based on pre-determined topics or annual showcase exhibits of member’s collections. However, to the best of this writer’s knowledge there has only been one national postcard competition. It came to be as a postcard design contest sponsored by POSTCARD COLLECTOR magazine.
For those who do not recognize the magazine’s title, Postcard Collector was a monthly publication that began in 1983. The issues usually ran approximately 75 pages and carried a great deal of advertising, but also articles written by postcard-luminaries, past and present, like Diane Allmen, Barbara Andrews, Norman Bobel, Ove Braskerud, Sally Carver, Roy Cox, George Gibbs, Ann Ross, Bob Karrer, Dave Long, George Miller, Susan Nicholson, Roy Nuhn, Hal Ottaway, Jane Pepper, Don Preziosi, Jack Sammons, and Kay Stansbury.
Sadly, your editor does not remember the year of the contest. I have asked more than a dozen long-time collectors, but I have failed to ascertain the year when the contest was held, except one collector suggested that it was around 1984. Is there a reader who remembers?
The contest resulted in twelve winning cards. Each one a chrome, 4 1/8” x 6” modern card designed by hobbyists from Connecticut to Oregon. A complete set, in mint condition, arrived recently at Postcard History. We are sharing them with our readers.
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Rick Geary postcard has the year 1984 near his signature… So maybe the contest was in 1984