Paperback
120 pages
19.4 x 14.4 x 1.4 cm

A large proportion of humankind eats the flesh of dead animals, usually quadrupeds, and most often bred and raised for this purpose, as food.

This collection of old postcards illustrates the manner of preparation and style of display of this foodstuff. Many of the cards have been inscribed and posted yet rarely comment on the pictures – they bear messages of goodwill and family news, complaints of ill-health and reports of weather experienced.

Since the cards are mostly pre-1920 the cattle will have eaten grass (rarely the case in the USA today) and the fowl will have lived in smaller communities. Acts of butchery will have been readily visible in shops and carcasses have hung in the streets outside. My collection informs the eaters of today of the work preceding the appearance of a steak or a joint.

- John Kasmin