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Victoria’s history, told in postcards

Victoria Then and Now: Postcards from the Past By Nick Russell Old Goat Press, 80 pp., $18.50 Old postcards help tell our history; that is why the Times Colonist has an occasional feature in Islander, using postcards submitted by our readers.
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Victoria Then and Now: Postcards from the Past; by Nick Russell; Old Goat Press, 80 pp., $18.50

Victoria Then and Now: Postcards from the Past

By Nick Russell

Old Goat Press, 80 pp., $18.50

 

 

Old postcards help tell our history; that is why the Times Colonist has an occasional feature in Islander, using postcards submitted by our readers.

When we see the old images, we can see how the city has changed over the years, even though some familiar landmarks have stood the test of time.

Postcards have inspired Nick Russell, a heritage activist and former journalist, to create this collection of 35 old cards, matched with modern-day scenes of the same locations.

Russell drew the postcards from his own collection, and took the photographs to go with the old scenes. He also tells us about what we are seeing — the stores, the buildings, and so on — and even about the people who sent the cards.

Postcards became popular in the late 19th century, when the post office allowed them to be sent with postage of just a penny.

In the first years of the 20th century, Victoria boomed, with several prominent buildings such as the Empress hotel and the Belmont building, as well as the causeway along Government Street, which replaced a bridge across the mud flats.

The developments inspired early photographers, and their work was published for sale to the public. These cards helped bring publicity to Victoria, and today, help give us a better idea of what life here was like well before we were born.

These cards have inspired, in turn, Russell. He has studied the history of Victoria’s postcards, determined which ones were most popular, and which ones are crucial to telling the story of our past.

The best postcards from his collection are reproduced here in full colour, with new photos taken from the same vantage point — or as close as possible, at least.

With respect to Russell, this is not a new idea. One of the most popular features in the old Victorian newspaper (which ceased publication in 1977, so I am dating myself here) was a photo feature by Cecil Clark, called Yesterday and Today.

Clark also matched old photographs with new ones, giving readers a good idea of how the city had changed over the years. In 1973, Clark published the best examples in book form. His book had about 80 pages — the same as Russell’s book.

Clark’s old modern photographs are now four decades old, so a new edition was long overdue. Russell took on the challenge, and outdid Clark by offering more information and much higher quality images, all in living colour.

This is Russell’s second book on Victoria history. His first, Glorious Victorians, dealt with early buildings, and was also superb.

The images in Victoria Then and Now are interesting enough; the stories Russell tells about the people who sent the cards are fascinating.

This book is perfect for reading — and also perfect as a walking guide through the history found on our streets.

Victoria Then and Now is being launched at the next meeting of the Victoria Historical Society, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the James Bay New Horizons Centre, 234 Menzies Street. The meeting is open to the public.

The reviewer is the editor-in-chief of the Times Colonist.