Series of 12 black and white postcards
Copyright: Chas. K. Reed, 1908
In May 1908, Charles K. Reed edited a series of 12 black and white postcards. The pictures were taken by Chester A. Reed and by amateur photographers who participated in the magazine “American Ornithology” between 1901 and 1906. All of those pictures were published in the magazine.
Among the postcards, two pictures should catch our attention.
The first picture (below) was first published in November 1902 in the magazine “American Ornithology.” It was offered as a free gift with subscriptions to the magazine “American Ornithology” for 1903, in November and December 1902.
Charles often used this picture in advertising.
«Chippy Family», Chester A. Reed, copyright Chas. K. Reed, August 6, 1902
The Reed family still owns the printing board for this picture.
This second picture was first published in January 1903. It was offered as a free gift to new subscribers to the magazine in 12 x 20 inches format.
«Preparing Breakfast», Chester A. Reed, copyright Chas. K. Reed, December 18, 1902.
The pictures were the first to become copyrighted under Charles K. Reed’s name in 1902. They were very popular in Chester’s days and were often used in promotional activities and advertising.
Charles chose the second picture “Preparing Breakfast” to represent the “Chippy” family in his postcards series. At that point, all of those pictures were registered on a copyright from May 1908.
In Carrie B. Reed’s notes, it mentioned that all the pictures had been taken by Chester A. Reed. I checked and discovered that 3 pictures were taken by other people.
Mr. J. H. Miller was the photographer of the pictures “Hummingbird” and “Screech Owls.” He won 2nd place in the Class 2, 1905 competition in the magazine “American Ornithology” with the second picture in 1905.
Mr. J. B. Pardoe was the photographer of the picture “Young Crows,” published in the same magazine in 1901.
Charles K. Reed had probably acquired the publication rights for the pictures before using them in his postcards series.
All remaining pictures were taken by Chester A. Reed.