ANTIQUE PHILIPPINE AMERICAN COLONIAL PERIOD IFUGAO POSTCARD

Description

Rare Antique Philippine Postcard.  Issued during the American Colonial Period (1900-1945), the earlier rather than latter part of the period.  Each postcard is small-size, directly printed from an original analog photograph (NOT digital, in other words), and comes in either a 5 X 4 inch ("horizontal/landscape") or 4 X 5 inch ("vertical/portrait") format.  Because the size is quite small (the standard smallest size for most photographic prints is 8 X 10 inches), the details of the image are captured with greater density.
The subject of each postcard is Philippine life, as it existed during the early 20th century, when the Philippines (known simply as "P.I.", initials for Philippine Islands) was colonized and owned by the United States, which bought it from the previous colonizer, Spain.  Many of the postcards in this collection capture the life, customs, and traditions of Philippine ethnic tribes and minorities, and therefore have significant ethnographic and collectible value for collectors of Philippine ethnic art and artifact.  Despite their old age, they have lost almost none of their original color and vibrancy.
THIS PARTICULAR PIECE IS RARE.  Note in particular how the woman balances not just one but an entire pile of clay pots over her head while walking.  It is only a bit surprising that in almost ALL serious monographs, exhibition catalogs, and full-fledged books on the ethnic art and artifact of the Ifugao and other Cordillera Mountain peoples, there is virtually NO vintage photographic documentation/reference such as this and many other photographic materials.  The reason is simple and understandable: The postcards are rare and in fragile condition, making their transfer to a modern digital transfer-format a difficult process at best, making these postcards collectible in themselves.
Near Fine.  Please refer to and enlarge scan for condition details.  Enclosed in protective plastic sheet.  Please do NOT ask me to remove the postcard from their sheet.  This is paper, fragile, very old yet remarkably intact, and I would like to keep it that way.  No contemporary repair.
PLEASE NOTE:  I MAKE EVERY EFFORT TO DESCRIBE ANY FLAW OR IMPERFECTION, IF THERE ARE ANY.  HOWEVER, ANTIQUE, VINTAGE, AND OTHERWISE OLD PIECES NATURALLY HAVE IMPERFECTIONS, WHICH ENHANCE, NOT DETRACT FROM, THEIR VALUE AND AUTHENTICITY.  IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR PERFECTION, YOU WILL NEVER BE HAPPY BUYING AND COLLECTING ANTIQUES OR VINTAGE PIECES, AND THE POINT OF BUYING AND COLLECTING IS HAPPINESS.  EVERYTHING ELSE IS PLAIN LIFE.
I DO
NOT
MAKE MONEY ON SHIPPING, BUT I  CANNOT AFFORD TO SUBSIDIZE IT EITHER.  PAYMENT DUE UPON COMPLETION OF SALE.
ORDERS OF TWO OR MORE PRINTED PAPER AND POSTCARD ITEMS ARE SHIPPED IN ONE PARCEL, WITH SAVINGS INCURRED ACCORDINGLY. THERE IS NO LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF PIECES THAT YOU CAN BUY AT NO ADDITIONAL SHIPPING COST.  I AM ABLE TO SHIP VIA USPS FLAT-RATE ENVELOPE ONLY WHOSE CURRENT RATE IS .80.  Thank you for your patience and understanding.
FOREIGN COLLECTORS WELCOME.  PLEASE CONTACT ME FIRST BEFORE BUYING, MAKING AN OFFER, OR PAYING BECAUSE USPS HAVE CHANGED ITS POLICIES WITH REGARD TO INTERNATIONAL PARCELS.
Please note: I am unable to ship abroad
using First Class Letter Mail or Air Mail Parcel Post as NEITHER service is trackable, which is now a mandatory requirement of both Paypal and eBay for all of my transactions.  The reason: Far too many items, including postcards I have shipped using Letter Mail in the past, were either lost in transit or reported by their buyers as "Item Not Received".  This is quite a hassle, and is simply not worth it.  So the cheapest shipping method wherever available, is via either USPS Priority Mail Flat-Rate Envelope or USPS Priority Mail Box, which includes Tracking, Delivery Confirmation, and Full Insurance.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR UNDERSTANDING.