How exaggeration cards were made
Photographers made these cards by combining photographs. A picture of a real ear of corn or a fish was cut out, enlarged and placed into a separate photograph of a wagon, a boat or a farmyard, then the combined image was rephotographed and printed as a real photo postcard. The best makers were skilled enough that the joins are hard to spot, which is part of their charm.
Where and when they were popular
Exaggeration postcards flourished in roughly the first two decades of the twentieth century, especially in farm country across the Midwest and the Plains, and in fishing and hunting regions. They were a form of boosterism, promoting a town or region's fertile soil and abundant game with a wink, and they appealed to a sense of humor rooted in frontier tall tales. Cards often carried captions like "How we do things in" a particular state or town, or jokes about harvesting a single potato.
Known makers
A few photographers became known for this work. William H. "Dad" Martin of Ottawa, Kansas, is often cited as one of the most prolific and skilled makers of exaggeration postcards in the years around 1908 to 1912, and his cards are widely collected. Other photographers in many states produced their own, some of excellent quality and some charmingly crude.
Common subjects
- Giant crops: corn, wheat, potatoes, onions, apples, melons, pumpkins and cabbages, usually on wagons or rail cars.
- Giant fish: fish larger than boats or anglers.
- Giant game and animals: rabbits, birds and other animals at impossible scale.
- Giant insects: grasshoppers and other insects carried off by farmers, a joke about pests.
- Unusual combinations: people riding giant animals or produce.
What makes one more valuable
- Real photo rather than printed.
- Quality of the composite: crisp images with invisible joins are preferred.
- Known makers, especially Martin.
- Unusual subjects rather than the most common corn and fish themes.
- Identified towns or states in the caption, which add appeal for regional collectors.
- Condition: clean images without heavy silvering, creases or stains.
Printed versions
Publishers also produced printed exaggeration cards, sometimes copying real photo designs, and later linen versions continued the joke. Printed versions are generally more common and less valuable than real photo originals.
Exaggeration cards in a collection
These cards usually appear one or two at a time in family albums, especially from farming families in the Midwest. They are always a pleasant find, and they add real interest to a collection. When I see them in photos, I count them separately from ordinary views.
Spotting a genuine composite
Original exaggeration cards are real photographs: smooth, continuous tone under magnification, often with a photo paper maker's mark in the stamp box, and sometimes with a maker's name or a caption scratched into the negative. Look closely at the edges of the giant object; on many cards you can see where the cut-out was placed, which is part of the fun. Modern reproductions are usually printed on bright white stock with no age.
Questions people ask
Are exaggeration postcards valuable?
Many sell for several dollars to tens of dollars; high-quality examples by known makers or with unusual subjects can bring more.
Who made exaggeration postcards?
Many local photographers; William H. "Dad" Martin of Kansas is one of the best known.
When were exaggeration postcards made?
Mostly in the early 1900s, roughly the first two decades of the century.
Are printed exaggeration cards worth as much as real photos?
Usually not.
How can I tell a real photo exaggeration card?
Look for continuous tone with no printing dots under a magnifier, and check the back for a photo paper maker's mark.
Do you buy exaggeration postcards?
Yes, as part of a complete collection.
The humor of the frontier
Tall tales were part of American frontier culture long before postcards: stories of impossible harvests, giant animals and heroic feats. Exaggeration postcards turned that humor into images that could be mailed anywhere. Many were sent by settlers to relatives back east, half joke and half advertisement for their new home. Read the messages on the back and you will often find the sender playing along.
Boosterism and town pride
Railroads, land companies and town promoters were eager to attract settlers to the Plains and the West, and exaggeration cards fit neatly into that promotional spirit. A card showing a single potato filling a wagon, captioned with a town's name, was a joke and an advertisement at once. Collectors of a particular state or town often seek the exaggeration cards captioned with its name.
Caring for exaggeration cards
Like other real photo postcards, exaggeration cards are sensitive to moisture, light and handling. Keep them upright in a dry box or in their albums, out of sunlight, and do not touch the image surface. Never try to clean them; silvering and age toning are expected on cards of this age.
Photographing them for a quote
These cards are visual jokes, so a clear photo of the front tells most of the story. Add a photo of the back of one or two, so the paper and any maker's stamp are visible.
Why are so many exaggeration cards from Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska? Those farm states had a strong tradition of booster humor and skilled local photographers, and the giant crop joke suited their farming identity.
Were exaggeration postcards meant to fool anyone? Mostly not. They were understood as jokes, and senders enjoyed playing along in their messages.
Are exaggeration postcards still made? Modern novelty versions exist, but collectors focus on the early real photo originals, which have the age, paper and craftsmanship that reproductions lack.
Sources and further reading
Ready to sell? Compare where to sell old postcards, or see how to sell old postcards step by step.
By state: Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, and all 50 states.