Till the Boys Come Home: The First World War Through its Picture Postcards

Till the Boys Come Home: The First World War Through its Picture Postcards – Deluxe Reference Edition by Tonie & Valamai Holt

This is not merely a book; it is a visual time capsule. Curated by the world-renowned Great War historians Tonie and Valamai Holt, this volume presents over 700 authentic postcards—many sourced from the Queen’s private collection. It offers a rare, panoramic view of the war through the eyes of every major combatant nation, from the vibrant propaganda of Britain and Germany to the scarce images from Salonika and Serbia.

• Global Scope: Unlike many Western-centric books, this work includes cards from America, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Czechoslovakia, Egypt, France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Rumania, and more.

• The "Twitter" of 1914: The authors brilliantly highlight the brevity and power of postcard captions—the "social media" of a century ago—capturing the raw patriotism, gallows humor, and deep sentimentality of a world in upheaval.

• Expert Insight: Each of the 700+ images is accompanied by the Holts' legendary commentary, providing the "chase" to understand the hidden meanings, political nuances, and human suffering behind the ink and paper.

• Visual Excellence: Every card is faithfully reproduced, preserving the dramatic contrast of the black-and-white photography and the exuberant, often surreal colors of the early 20th-century lithographs.

• Format: A handsome, heavy-bound volume designed for both serious academic study and "dilettante pleasure."

• Artifact Age: Every postcard featured in the book is now at least 110 years old, making this a vital record of surviving historical ephemera.

It remains in excellent condition, with the vibrant cover art intact and the internal pages crisp. It shows the careful handling expected of a serious phaleristics and ephemera researcher.