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G - Topicals

GAR - Grand Army of the Republic postcards fall into two categories. Some were issued as holiday cards for this veterans association gatherings that took place on May 30th (Decoration Day), when the graves of fallen comrades would be decorated. The other type of card captured events such as monument dedications, reunions, parades, and reenactments, often on the original battlefield. Many of these activities were preserved as real photo postcards. The last such event took place in 1949 as the ranks of veterans grew thin. Anyone who served in the army fighting for the Union during the American Civil War could be a GAR member.

Gardens - There have been many famous gardens from around the world that have found themselves depicted on postcards. But some of the more interesting cards portray the small gardens that accompany private residences. The very simple and matter of fact presentations of these cards can make them easily pass for generics except they often contain a certain intimacy that shows a love for the subject even when not dramatic. Many such garden cards were published by the owner of the property.

Gargoyles - These stone carved architectural details from the Middle Ages had many romantic connotations attached to them by the time they became the subject matter of postcards. They had long been painted and drawn by many artists. Gargoyles are usually only found on European cards, especially those depicting Paris. In the United States gargoyles have only been added to buildings as an element of modernist decoration and are rarely depicted on postcards.

Gas Stations - Many early cards sought out depictions of the newly developed automobile but the stations that served their needs received much less notice. Even though the first specialized gas station (filling station) appeared in the United States in 1905, most motorists still continued to buy their fuel from pharmacies, and repairs were often made by blacksmiths. Only after the gasoline engine became standard and cars began being made by production line did the number of these private stations grow.

General Store - The rural nature of the United States and Canada made it difficult to buy goods for much of their histories. In communities too small to support specialized businesses a general store would be formed to supply a wide variety of essential and highly marketable products. If a unusual item was desired a order could be placed with the store and they would try to have it added to their usual deliveries. With the advent of the mail order catalog and the beginning of Rural Free Delivery the relevance of these stores began to wain. Before individual Post Offices were built many general stores also served as collection points for mail and became focal points for socializing. As the Nation’s transportation network grew more efficient so did the spread of urbanization and the need for these stores disappeared. These cards now tend to be rare and are prized by collectors.

Glaciers - While glaciers have not been known as a collectable genre many postcards have been made of them. While some postcards depict glaciars in a wild state, in others they are shown as tourist attractions, esspecially in Europe. They have generally always fallen into the range of view-cards but under our present conditions of rapid global climate change their uniqueness is becoming apparent. Many coastal glaciers have now receded up off the shore and some once found in mountain regions have completely disappeared. Postcards have captured many of these natural features that are quickly becoming faded memories.

Glamour - These postcards depicting a beautiful women could be artist drawn or real photos but the focus of attention was on the woman as a glamourous object and not as personality. Glamour cards are portraits of a type rather than an individual, and rarely contain any pictorial narrative unless presented in an environment populated by high society. Most of these cards were printed in Europe.

Golf - The game of golf had long been played in the British Isles and even Canada before the first course in the United States was built in Yonkers, New York in 1888. After additional golf courses were constructed on Long Island the game began to spread across the country, and the number of postcards depicting them rose with the games popularity. While the number of golf courses in the United States grew substantially after the First World War, many of the earlier courses depicted on postcards have since disappeared under the high demand of land for urban sprawl.

Great White Fleet - Teddy Roosevelt sent the sixteen new battleships of the Atlantic Fleet on a voyage around the world in 1907. These ships were painted white with added gold detailing. Postcards were made depicting the individual ships, their welcoming at foreign and domestic ports, and other events the fleet took part in around the world. Other countries also published cards of the fleet’s visit to their ports, most notably in Japan.

Greetings - A variation on the holiday card. Most greeting cards were made for birthdays but other occasions and more generic greetings were made as well. After the First World War when the folding greeting card became popular few postcards continued to be published as greetings.

Gruss aus - These early Germanic Greetings from postcards predate most American cards. While primarily consisting of German, Austrian, and Swiss views, other countries and subjects were displayed on them as well. Although many cards may contain the words Gruss aus, most consider the true cards of this genre to contain multi-views supported with decorative graphics. They were usually all printed as chromolithographs.