Vintage Souvenir View Folders

[RetroToday]

Thought I'd scan and share parts of my collection of vintage souvenir view folders here at the display case. I've only scanned the front and back covers so far.
I've loved looking through these booklets since I first stumbled on one as a kid.

I'm sure you've all seen this type of folder or folio before, but just in case I'll explain them a little.
These 6" x 4" booklets were very popular during the 1930s-1950s for tourists wanting to give the poor people back home a sample of the great place they were visiting.
They were to be sent through the regular mail services, much like a postcard, but they contained several images inside the folio instead of just one. All of the images were printed on both sides of a single long sheet that was folded several times and fastened in the folio cover. Many of the one I have were never sent, maybe they were purchased more as a souvenir for the traveller.

Another benefit to sending one of these folders is that the sender could write usually quite a long message inside the cover. Typical postcards have such a small correspondence section. Also, this was a way that a message could also be sent semi-privately, because it was hidden from view inside the cover.

Please share any you may have here as well, would love to see yours.

 

[RetroToday]

Here's some more.

 

[RetroToday]

...and some more....

 

[RetroToday]

And, here's yet even more of mine... the last of the ones I have this size, hope you enjoyed seeing them.
I also have some other old souvenir viewbooks and booklets that were not meant to sent by mai - I may scan and post them here as well.

 

[p51]

I collect items pertaining to a USAAF fighter training base in my hometown in Florida (I now live several thousand miles from there), and I have a few for the town itself, all dated WW2 dates:

More on the rest of the collection can be seen here if anyone cares.

 

[RetroToday]

I collect items pertaining to a USAAF fighter training base in my hometown in Florida (I now live several thousand miles from there), and I have a few for the town itself, all dated WW2 dates... More on the rest of the collection can be seen here if anyone cares.

Great stuff P51 :eusa_clap - btw, I care, and had a look at the other thread too.

 

[ShoreRoadLady]

These are lovely; thanks for sharing them with us. I have some travel brochures from the '60s, but nothing like this.

I notice some of them say "Postage 1 1/2 cents without message". What does that mean?

 

[RetroToday]

These are lovely; thanks for sharing them with us. I have some travel brochures from the '60s, but nothing like this.

I notice some of them say "Postage 1 1/2 cents without message". What does that mean?

Thanks ShoreRoadLady,

I believe most postal services charged about 3 cents when you sent one of these folders that included a message you wrote to the recipient on the inside cover - you only had to pay 1 1/2 cents if you sent it blank.

 

[RetroToday]

I scanned the "Homes Of The Movie Stars" folder in its entirety for you Loungers to see.

Here's the front cover, inside cover text, and the first side of the fold-out:

 

[RetroToday]

Here's the second side of the "Homes Of The Movie Stars" fold-out, the rear cover at the end.