Authentication of Real Photo Post Cards (RPPC)
A real photo postcard (RPPC) is a continuous-tone photographic image printed on postcard stock. The term recognizes a distinction between the real photo process and the lithographic or offset printing processes employed in the manufacture of most postcard images since the 1950's.
Beginning in 1902 Kodak offered a pre-printed card back that allowed postcards to be made directly from photo negatives. These card backs, soon copied by other photo paper suppliers, had special distinguishing marks and letters in the "place stamp here" block on the reverse. These unique markings signified the particular manufacturer of the photographic card stock paper in the original RPPC. This practice, used throughout the twentieth century, has left historians and collectors with a way of authenticating RPPC's that might otherwise be easily reproduced by today's widely available copying techniques. Each of the cards pictured here can be authenticated by its stamp block on the back. |
1931 Headquarters & Dispensary Porch (Health Lodge) |
1931 Pier & Lifeguard Tower View East from Beach |
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The Headquarters & Dispensary was the 3rd permanent structure built in camp and first permanent structure built on South (Staff) Hill behind the eucalyptus tree. Here we see a life saving demonstration by staff member Ed Williams on far right. As noted by the original owner of the postcard, his technique shown is the "wrong position". |
Emerald Bay's first permanent pier, complete with lifeguard tower, was built in 1928. Beginning in 1929, a short floating dock extension was built past the tower which was subsequently extended in 1930 and again in 1931 as seen here. The lifeguard tower was removed off the end of the pier in 1932 for filming of a movie called "Bird of Paradise" starring Joel McCrea, Deloris Del Rio and Lon Cheney Jr. |
1931 Pier & Lifeguard Tower View Northwest from Water |
1931 Pier & Lifeguard Tower View North from Beach |
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![]() Swimming, canoeing and boating took place on both sides of the floating dock extension from the lifeguard tower. The popular helmet dive activity started in 1929 from the dock extension was moved off to its own floating platform by 1930. |
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![]() The South (near side) of the floating dock was largely used for recreational swimming. The North (far side) was used for training and instruction. NOTE: white patches on hill to the right were "fake" snow placed by a movie crew for a film shot in the late 1920's, then left behind. |
1931 Swimming Instruction on Pier Extension |
1931 Inspection Tent Row |
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Scouts on the extension dock beyond the lifeguard tower (out of the picture to the left) might likely be participating in swimming or lifesaving instruction. Additional lifeguards were also close by in the row boat on the right. |
Every evening before dinner, staff assembled the campers in front of their tents for inspection of uniforms and quarters. Wall tents (on cement slabs) seen in this image replaced Crescent Bay's original pyramid tents in 1928. |
1931 Scout Contest Waterfront Parade Grounds |
1931 Scout Games Waterfront Parade Grounds |
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Scouting competitions were held on the parade ground in front of the eucalyptus tree. The Headquarters & Health Lodge along with a striped wall tent for staff can be seen in the background. The striped staff tents were all replaced with cabins by 1934. The original white flagpole from 1925 Catalina Camp can be seen behind the row of Scouts on the left. |
It's not clear why these groups of Scouts were huddled around on the ground but it could be a game or competition organized by the staff. An additional pair of staff tents are now more visible directly behind and between the eucalyptus tree and the Headquarters & Health Lodge on the upper right. |
1932 South (Staff) Hill, Parade Ground & Dining Hall |
1935 Waterfront with Pier & Canoe Fleet |
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Landmarks visible L-R: Eucalyptus tree; striped staff tent; flag pole; "Hooey TP"; parade ground; dining hall. All striped staff tents were replaced with cabins by 1934. The Hooey TP was home to junior staff and existed from 1929-1932 or earlier. |
During the 1930's, Bergstrom liked taking photos from underneath the big eucalyptus tree. Here we see the pier with floating extension dock (without lifeguard tower) and Emerald Bay's expanding canoe fleet which now numbered six canoes. The rock pile in foreground may have been a "clean-up" pile of larger rocks removed from the beach or staff hill. NOTE: the short white post seen at the very left was the southern end of a new knee-high, chain link guard rail running north along the beach. |
1935 Indian Rock and View East |
1936 Emerald Bay Southern Coastline |
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Another view under the eucalyptus tree showing Indian Rock above and to the right of the white boat and almost invisible against the dark sky. Rock pile also has small white rocks used to line the border between the beach and parade ground. |
Another look south along the coastline from underneath the eucalyptus tree. A row of low lying dark shrubs can be seen on the right, having been planted in 1935. The pier & dock from this vantage point are out of view to the left side of frame. |
1936 Emerald Bay from atop North Hill |
1937 Parade Ground |
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This image is positively identified as being from 1936 because of the building on lower left, still under construction (see wood cross-braces holding up chimney). That building was the Sea Scout Landship AKA "the Castle". NOTE: the single pier and a tall, thin lifeguard tower built on the beach in 1933 after the original lifeguard tower on the pier was demolished following the 1932 camp season. It can be faintly seen below the end of the extension dock and shoreline. |
View looking south across parade ground towards staff hill. All of the striped staff tents are gone, replaced by wooden staff cabins painted dark green. The Headquarters & Dispensary was converted to the Ranger's residence in 1935 and can be seen in shadow at the top of staff hill. The dining hall,also now painted dark green, can be seen on the right. The replacement lifeguard tower from 1933, now painted white, is clearly visible to the left of the line of Scouts. |
1937 Waterfront and Two Piers View from Arrow Point |
1937 Indian Rock and Southern Coastline |
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A 2nd pier & floating dock, dubbed "A" dock, was built south (left) of the original pier from this view before camp opened in 1937. It can be seen along the busy waterfront. The renowned and solitary eucalyptus is now flanked by many trees that were planted by the scouts in the early 1930's. |
An updated view of Indian Rock and Emerald Bay from one of Bergstrom's favorite perches underneath the eucalyptus tree. Crescent Bay Council used this image to advertise the 1937 summer camp in its official announcement. |