The world exists to be put on a postcard: artists' postcards from 1960 to now

The focus of this volume is rather specialized. Most postcard collectors focus on views of particular places, holidays, or other subjects, or artists or styles of the Golden Age of postcards (c.1890--1950); those who collect art have largely "reverted to worship of record auction prices" (p.52). In selecting postcards created by artists, Cooper revels in this populist medium in more recent years. Some of the postcards he includes were produced as works of art themselves, others as invitations or advertisements. The World Exists to Be Put on a Postcard documents this variety through a collection at the British Museum. With the exception of the first and last chapters ("1960s and 1970s" and "Recent Postcards"), the organization is by theme , e.g., invitations, political postcards, altered postcards, sets of postcards, and so on. Each chapter has a brief introduction followed by reproductions of the postcards with captions giving detailed information. For the most part the postcards are reproduced slightly smaller than original size (sets are notably smaller in reproduction); the excellent printing on quality non-glossy paper--a different surface than most of the originals--works well here. In addition to documenting this work, the book serves as critical commentary on the contemporary art world. Summing Up: Recommended. Lower- and upper-division undergraduates; graduate students; general readers. --Frederic W. Gleach, Cornell University

More scholarly than the playful medium might imply, this volume offers a comprehensive, knowledgeable overview of the postcard format and its place in the late 20th and early 21st century American and European art sphere. London-based antiques expert, deltiologist (postcard collector), and writer Cooper knows his subject and takes it seriously. The cards, by artists both well known (Andy Warhol, Sol Lewitt) and obscure, range from sophisticated and transgressive to enigmatic and silly, but all are treated as legitimate, if ephemeral, works of art. Cooper groups them into rough categories--exhibition invitations, political postcards, altered cards, portraits, sets, etc.--with short essays and descriptions that place both work and artists within the context of art movements and collectives, collaborators, influences, galleries, printers, dealers, and shows, in impressive detail. The appealing artwork, on matte stock with an appropriate lack of pretension, gives this intentionally disposable early form of social media its proper art-historical due. VERDICT A solid addition to any library's contemporary art collection. The combination of engaging images and detailed art history will hold value for students, professionals, or casual readers.--Lisa Peet, Library Journal

More scholarly than the playful medium might imply, this volume offers a comprehensive, knowledgeable overview of the postcard format and its place in the late 20th and early 21st century American and European art sphere. London-based antiques expert, deltiologist (postcard collector), and writer Cooper knows his subject and takes it seriously. The cards, by artists both well known (Andy Warhol, Sol Lewitt) and obscure, range from sophisticated and transgressive to enigmatic and silly, but all are treated as legitimate, if ephemeral, works of art. Cooper groups them into rough categories—exhibition invitations, political postcards, altered cards, portraits, sets, etc.—with short essays and descriptions that place both work and artists within the context of art movements and collectives, collaborators, influences, galleries, printers, dealers, and shows, in impressive detail. The appealing artwork, on matte stock with an appropriate lack of pretension, gives this intentionally disposable early form of social media its proper art-historical due. VERDICT A solid addition to any library's contemporary art collection. The combination of engaging images and detailed art history will hold value for students, professionals, or casual readers.—Lisa Peet, Library Journal