Several years back we started buying vintage postcards of shrimp boats.  Not only are they visually appealing but they help tell a little bit about the history of shrimping based on the age of the card.  Some of the ones that we have are bordered in white which dates them from 1915 to 1930.  And some are “linen” meaning that the paper has a high rag content.  The peak use of this material was 1930 until 1945. 

Postcards are relatively inexpensive to purchase and easy to store or display.  We keep ours in a little flip style album with clear sleeves so that you can see both sides.   

The back of the card is often as interesting as the image with personal messages, old stamps or the printer’s comment about the image.  

The one above gives an indication of how busy Tampa was at one time.

Details such as boat names, (“Benito Mussolini” above) give us insight to the various shrimping communities and the heritage of American shrimping.   St. Augustine had many shrimpers of Italian and Greek descent. 

Start your own collection by browsing at garage sales, flea markets or antiques stores.  ebay always has a selection and if you buy more than one from the same dealer ask if they will adjust shipping charges.

To learn more about dating postcards by the card material used, design or postage requirements click here.


To view our favorites from our collection click here and scroll down.

Happy collecting!

It will be ten years ago this May that Jack Leigh lost his battle with cancer.  He had been a dedicated photographer documenting in striking black and white images that he loved.  His passion for the seafaring ways and the beauty of his native Georgia coastline are evident in one of our favorite books, “Nets & Doors: Shrimping in Southern Waters”.    Jack identified many years ago that our shrimping industry was threatened and in 1989 published a book portraying commercial shrimpers that he followed for 3 years.   

A native of Savannah, Jack studied at The University of Georgia, and fittingly was the cover photographer for what is perhaps Savannah’s best known novel, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”.

Being the shrimp fanatics that we are, “Nets & Doors” is now part of our collection.  (He has other noteworthy books that you can read more about here on this Jack Leigh web-site).  Consider treating yourself or a fellow shrimper to “Nets & Doors: Shrimping in Southern Waters” – it was, for us, a very welcome gift!