Postcard guide
Capturing the PNW - Smith's Scenic Views, Tacoma Washington
Notes on Smith's Scenic Views, the Tacoma postcard publisher founded by Kyle Smith Sr., and the kinds of Pacific Northwest cards collectors watch for.
Smith's Scenic Views publishing was founded in 1947 by Kyle Smith Sr. (1917 - 2014), who returned from the Second World War to start a photography business in Tacoma, Washington. Kyle sold black and white real photo postcards from the truck of his Mercury station wagon to tourists on his travels through Washington and Oregon. This publication label would later form the basis for the Smith-Western Souvenirs company.
Early postcards under this label are almost exclusively scenic photos of Washington and Oregon. Our assumption is that nearly all the early prints were photographed by Kyle Smith. Newer postcards, including lithographic prints, many in color, are credited to other photographers including Eric Wahleen, Cal Harbert, Clayt Green, Georg Neilson, Irwin Caplan, and Wayne Parsons.
Notes and market conditions from North West Postcards
Real photo postcards photographed from Smith's Scenic Views can bring values as high as $15 on eBay and other platforms. Of particular interest are postwar street scenes from towns in Oregon and Washington, as well as industrial and forestry subjects.
The lithographic cards are of less interest to collectors. Those that have sold recently often range from $1 to $5.
Additional reading
- "The Smith-Western Story", Smith-Western company website.
- "Kyle Smith | 1917 - 2014 | Obituary", New Tacoma Cemeteries, Funeral Home and Crematory.