“Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” - Søren Kierkegaard
In 1861, John P. Charlton, an American printer, produced the first postcard, later copyrighted with Hymen Lipman (who is also credited with the copyright of the first pencil with an eraser, in 1858).
After more than 150 years, all kinds of postcards were produced all around the world.
Nowadays they seem a thing from the past and probably they are a vintage view on what the world once was. Those willing to actually pay attention can find a full universe in a single postcard.
post #1
Torino (Italy) - Porta Nuova Railway Station - early '30s
This is the city of Turin, Italy (Torino). The main railway station, Porta Nuova, is depicted here during the early '30s. At the time, many tramway lines surrounded the railway station. Some of them were city lines and some were extra urban ones (i.e., Torino-Saluzzo/Carmagnola tramway line).
The station was originally activated in 1864 and later modified many times.
Just a few cars are visible in this postcard. Cars were still too expensive for the average Italian.
In 1932, in Italy there were 291.000 cars compared to approximately 1.500.000 in France and England. The most popular models in Italy, at the time, were Fiat 500 Topolino and Fiat 508 Balilla.
Fiat 508 Balilla - 1933
source: wikipedia
Fiat 500 Topolino - 1936
source: wikipediaSome pushcarts can be noticed in the lower left corner.
The station has its main entrance on Corso Vittorio Emanuele II (simply Corso Vittorio for people living in Torino) and the other street on the crossing near the trees is Via Nizza.
Today Torino Porta Nuova Station approximately counts 70 million passengers yearly, and it's the third italian railway station for passengers flow.
coordinates: 45°03′45″N 7°40′44″E
black and white postcard from my collection, not travelled
dimensions: 19 cm x 14 cm