Large, rare lot of 96 roadside motel and hotel postcards illustrated by American folk artist Walter Bowers (see short history below). All matte finish, standard-sized, dating from the 1940s to the 1960s.This is a one-of-a-kind collection for any fan of Bowers art, American mid-century roadside, and artist-signed postcards. There is likely not a similar collection available in the US, to my knowledge. If you are a reseller, I\'m guessing many or most of these cards will sell for $5 or more, but it would be a shame to break them up. Common states include Florida, New York, South Carolina, George, Virginia, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and others.Conditions range from good to excellent. Almost all unique, less than 5 duplicates I would estimate. All but a few are postally unused. Please message with any questions - from Antiques & sale News: \"W. Walter Bowers of Atlanta, Ga., is known for his postcard art. He used a crayon medium to produce richly drawn landscaped roadside havens, motels, and lodges along the East Coast from the 1940s to 1960s. Each postcard on reverse reads on a vertical line “An original crayon gravure by W. Walter Bowers, 5500 Lake Forrest Drive, Atlanta, Ga.” Not a tremendous amount about the artist or these mid-20th-century cards is known, and the cards are not numbered.
The rich coloration achieved by Bowers was well done and enhanced due to the printing process. Gravure is an intaglio process of photomechanical printing that involves engraving an image. Bowers not only drew, but custom-printed cards. His work in this medium, which was done almost exclusively for various roadside lodges and motel establishments, speaks to business marketing, the American landscape and culture during this time period.\"