Far Eastern University Nicanor Reyes Sr. Memorial Building Vintage Postcard

Far Eastern University is one of the colleges and universities that is popular feature in many postcard issuance. Her art deco architectural style was an icon during the times.

One of the earliest known postcard feature was from the Philippine Education Company Incorporated, Which is the leading school supply company about 60 years ago.

Far Eastern University -Nicanor Reyes Sr. Building Postcard

The 3 known art deco buildings within Far Eastern University that were featured by PECO.

1.) The most recognizable one were Nicanor Reyes Sr. Memorial Building, 2.) Arellano High School ( Boy’s High School) and 3.) Girl’s High School.

The vintage postcard was bought a couple of years ago at a local stamp bourse for an equivalent of 2 burger meals.

Technical Description

Divided Back (c. 1907-1915) could be reprinted until mid- 1960’s
Type: Printed (Lithograph)

Far Eastern University, Nicanor Reyes Memorial Hall, Manila, Philippines

The postcard is in used good condition. Genuine Curteich-Chicago “CT Photo Colorlit” No. 7B-H1061. Philippine Education Co., Inc. Manila, PI. No. 4028.

Produced with scalloped or straight edges and with a smooth or linen textured surface.

Philippine Educational Company Incorporated

Philippine Educational Company Incorporated(PECO) was the one stop shop for school supplies, postcards, books, magazines, pencils, drafting materials, toys, imported items among other stuffs. Our great grandparents, grandparents or even parents enjoyed the heydays of the premier business district in the country.

The original PECO shop at 101 Escolta Avenue, Manila was founded by Verne Miller, a Thomasite schoolteacher, who landed in the Philippines in 1901. Surviving the American, Japanese and destruction of the last world war.

Their business eventually moved out of the financial district by the mid- 1950’s to Makati Commercial Center and the operations spanned for more than 70 years.

One of the items which was quite popular was their postcards, Some of the postcards were even sold to nearby town, cities and provinces for students, tourists and postcard collectors.

PECO eventually folded-up by the mid -1970’s due to strict competition, import regulations and other problems which affected the operation of the company.

According to some resellers and old time postcard/ stamp dealers, PECO postcards circulated until the mid -1970’s in Metro Manila well up to early 1980’s for far flung provinces. A postcard then would only cost few centavos and some would be send abroad.

I have two aunts which collected stamps and postcards told me that majority of their collection were lost during the great Binondo fire in the late 1960’s.

Written Letter and Stamps

In a letter apparently from an exchange student and her host family back in Philadelphia: “Greetings from Manila. You really should visit these islands someday. It’s wonderful to be back home – my parents are both well, and the city has grown tremendously. There are many new buildings all over, but there is still a lot of poverty and the downtown section is as dirty as ever. Will write again. Best Love, Jo.”

The postcard was mailed from Manila to 9512 Hilspach St, Philadelphia, United States with 3 stamps which featured Marcelo H. Del Pilar ( 5 centavos face value per stamp) dated September 25, 1958.

Note: According to a stamp and postcard collectors- The Marcelo H. Del Pilar stamps were issued in 1952 and might have circulated until early 1960’s.

Sources and References:

American Regime Manila Thru Postcards (part 1)

American Regime Manila Thru Postcards (part 2)

American Regime Manila Thru Postcards ( part 3)

American Regime Manila Thru Postcards (part 4)

Personal interview from postcard collectors and dealers

Philippine Postcards page 130 to 137 Consuming Passions

Philippine Postcards.com:

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1950’s Philippine Christmas Postcards and Greeting Cards Haul

It is just 35 days before Christmas. Got a chance to arrange a couple of family memorabilia tucked in one corner.

obverse side of the Christmas greeting card ( Bank of Commerce building) circa 1950 to 1951

Christmas greetings

only few Christmas greeting cards were kept which dates back earlier than 1950’s. Most were destroyed by two fires which gutted most of the memorabilia and other items during the war and in the late 1960’s. Some where thrown away, while others were eaten by termites.

obverse side with Season’s Greetings and building

A Soriano Y Cia

Sending Christmas greeting cards and postcards were normal way of greeting clients, friends, family members from all over the world. Unfortunately, with the advent of internet and social media age, fewer people even dare to send this traditional way of greeting.

Maligayang Pasko with traditional nipa hut circa 1951( obverse)

They think that it was expensive and crude-some to send someone Christmas greeting cards. Some may not even arrive on time, while other may lost in transit.

with handwritten message and a generic type written greeting

“Kapayapaan sa lupa at Kaluwalhatian  sa Langit ang umaatin sa araw na ito.”

This is one of the early Christmas greeting card printed in the country. The greeting card was address to Lasena in 1951 by Mr. Ceferino S. Reyes c/o Philippine Education Company P.O. Box. Manila.

Handwritten” Don Berto, y Distinguido Señora

The lithography was made by Carmelo and Bauermann, Inc. Exclusively for Philippine Education Co. Inc.

Marcelo Industry ( obverse) 1951 to 1952 printed in the Philippines probably customized. ( possibly printed in Malabon, Rizal province )

greetings from Marcelo Industry- Malabon , Rizal province

Philippine Christmas Postcards and Greeting Cards

Christmas Greeting from Chua Yap – Manila 1951 (Philippine Mirror Factory)

From F. E Zuellig Inc. ( well known multi-national pharmaceutical company )

It was middle part of the 19th century when sending Christmas greeting cards became cheaper with printing cost and distribution went down.  Most of the greeting cards were printed in  Great Britain, United States of America, Germany, Spain and France.

The greeting cards that were available in the country were sold in Escolta, bookstores and bazaars in downtown Manila.  It is quite rare to encounter Christmas greeting cards or postcards printed in the country before the 1930’s. Most were imported from other countries, particularly the United States, Great Britain or Spain.

obverse ( with embossed poinsettia flowers) circa 1951 to 1952

People would prefer imported Christmas cards since it had nice color and had a glossy finished.

from P.E Domingo Inc. which had their office in 13 to 15 Escolta street, Manila

It was only during the early 1950’s when some big corporations, politicians and rich families started customization of Christmas postcards or greeting cards printed in local printing stores or publishing companies.

greeting card from Mr. and Mrs. Jose Fernandez Zorrilla

They would be send via Bureau of Post or personally handed the card to the recipient.

greeting card from Lt. Colonel and Mrs. Emigdio C. Cruz circa 1951 to 1952 from Agno Street, Quezon City

Wide variety of materials were used in printing of Christmas postcards like photo-paper print which depict some tourist spots.

obverse ( our lady of lourdes ) with cartoonish character riding on top of a carabao

Sam Studio 250 Ongpin Street, Binondo , Manila ( probably late 1950’s to early 1960’s) reverse side.

I also got a few Christmas postcard from an online friend base in Laguna province. Her grand uncle use to have a private printing press in Quezon City. The uncle collects a couple of old photos, postcards, stamps and Christmas greeting cards send to him by his friends and clients.

The Christmas greeting cards featured were between 60 to 68 years-old. Other bookstores would follow the trend and popular Hallmark greeting cards would become common in the following decades.

By purchasing some of these well-known postcard or greeting cards, one can help a child or a community. Plus the value of collecting these items will surely bring nostalgia and cherishing effort.