American West Real Photo Postcards of Iowa, New Mexico, and South Dakota, Early 1900s

1900. [Western Americana] Archive of 6 photo-postcards with of the American West. Early 1900s. black and white RPPC real photo Postcards show a range of western towns in Iowa, New Mexico, and South Dakota. 5 x 3.5 inches. Images show a mix of horse drawn carriages and early automobiles in main streets of western towns yet unpaved with early storefronts. In one image of the main street in Story City, Iowa, a single gas lamp hangs from a wire strung across the door road, storefronts lining both sides and a train passing in the distance. 2 of the postcards are blank on verso, the others inscribed. One reads "We got back today from the lake had a sham bottle as we came in. will write some more tomorrow, Bell" under the header "Camp C 5-13." The completion of railroads in the 1870's opened vast regions of the American west to settlers who poured out of crowded Eastern cities to mine, farm, and ranch, transforming the formerly wild landscape, driving out its native population and forever altering the course of world economic history. Settlers who moved west wrote home to family and friends with news of the frontier, and these postcard images provided the pictures to accompany their tales. Overall gives a real view of early western life. Stains to top of one card do not affect image. Light sunning to some images. In very good condition overall.