WWI Soldier Studio Portrait RPPC Postcard 1910s Bayonet Rifle Military Artura

USD 16.99

Condition: Used

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Description

View WWI Soldier Studio Portrait RPPC Postcard 1910s Bayonet Rifle Military Artura with current marketplace pricing, condition, product images and item details. He holds a bolt-action rifle with a fixed bayonet upright, resting on the ground next to his right foot, the bayonet extending upward, while another rifle or the handle of an entrenching tool is partially visible on his left side. This vintage Real Photo Postcard presents a full-length studio portrait of a young soldier, a clean-shaven man appearing to be in his late teens or early twenties with a neatly trimmed mustache and a serious, formal expression typical of military portraits from the early twentieth century. The subject stands at attention in a high-collared wool tunic with two visible breast pockets, a soft peaked cap featuring two prominent buttons on the front, and trousers. His equipment includes a sturdy leather belt carrying at least two rectangular ammunition pouches on his right side and a rounded canteen or water bottle on his left, with a wide canvas or leather strap crossing his chest from the right shoulder to support a rectangular backpack visible over his left shoulder. He holds a bolt-action rifle with a fixed bayonet upright, resting on the ground next to his right foot, the bayonet extending upward, while another rifle or the handle of an entrenching tool is partially visible on his left side. The uniform style, equipment configuration, and photographic quality strongly suggest this image dates from the World War I era, roughly 1914 to 1918. The specific style of the cap with its two buttons and the general appearance of the gear are somewhat characteristic of Central or Eastern European armies of the period, such as Austro-Hungarian, Serbian, Bulgarian, or early Russian forces, though a precise national identification is difficult without clearer insignia. The verso confirms this as a divided-back Real Photo Postcard bearing the "ARTURA" branding repeated four times around the stamp box, identifying the photographic paper as a product of Eastman Kodak. Artura paper was manufactured specifically for printing real photographs directly onto postcard stock, a process that produces the warm sepia toning evident on this card. The divided-back format, with "FOR MESSAGE" on the left and "FOR ADDRESS ONLY" on the right beneath ornate serif lettering with swirl designs in the "O" of "POST" and the "C" of "CARD," was adopted in the United States on March 1, 1907, placing the card's production at 1907 or later, with the Artura stock remaining common through the 1920s. No handwritten message, address, stamp, or cancellation mark appears on either side, indicating the card was never mailed. The front exhibits noticeable discoloration and what appears to be a stain in the upper left quadrant, along with minor surface dirt, dust, and small spots across the lighter background areas, while the edges and corners remain in relatively good condition. The back shows significant age-related discoloration with a uniform yellowish-brown patina and numerous small dark brown or orange foxing spots scattered across the central and upper right areas, with darker smudges near "FOR MESSAGE" and in the upper left corner, plus a small irregular mark at the upper right corner possibly indicating a minor tear or concentrated stain. These condition characteristics are consistent with a photographic artifact of this vintage that has experienced environmental exposure over more than a century. Condition: Used. Category: Collectibles › Postcards & Supplies › Postcards › Non-Topographical Postcards.