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About This Image:
This restored vintage postcard shows the historic Empire Building in Birmingham, Alabama. When I saw this cool nighttime scene of that skyscraper reaching into the inky blue skies, I knew this was a special view of vintage Birmingham that needed to be restored. There’s just something super special about this one. The style, tone, and color has a great vintage vibe and that was something that was important to me to retain while I cleaned up the years of damage to the original cards I worked from. Yes, I had to purchase multiple of these vintage postcards to get a workable image.
The Empire Building is also known as the City National Bank Building. Completed in 1909, the 16 story building was done in the neoclassical style which was quite popular for impressive buildings of its day. When completed it was the tallest building in the entire state of Alabama. The Empire Building eventually fell vacant and was only in recent years renovated and reopened as the Elyton Hotel – a luxury hotel in the heart of Birmingham. What a great fate for a century old and iconic building! Too many end up meeting the wrecking ball.
The original Birmingham Empire Building postcard must have been published when the building was still fairly new. There’s no printing date on the postcards I have but the postmarks range from 1912 to 1917. And a further clue to the age of this vintage Birmingham, Alabama, postcard lies in the publisher. William H. Faulkner owned and operated the Post Card Exchange Publishers in Birmingham, AL, from 1909 to 1919. The postcards published by the company were color printed with halftone dots. Like many vintage postcards if you take a detailed look at them, you can see the tiny little dots that create the overall image. And I can tell you from looking at multiple of these cards in the process of restoring them, it’s always an imprecise science printing them. I don’t think any two cards are precisely the same.
Because of the no two are the same nature of these cards and the excessive wear and dirt on all the cards I had at my disposal, this restoration is in the spirit of the original postcard but unlikely to be identical. I normally do my best to retain the halftone dots that are part of the printing process but in the case of this particular vintage postcard, it was not possible. But I’m very pleased with the final result and believe you will be as well. The mood and vintage coloring has been retained.This restored postcard can be ordered in an array of sizes from small to quite large including many ready to hang formats such as canvas prints, framed wall art and more.
If you have memories of the old Empire Building in Birmingham or general thoughts on this vintage Alabama postcard, I hope you’ll take the time to share your thoughts in the comments. If you have questions about prints or other comments you’d like to share with me directly, please feel free to send me a message.
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Originally I purchased these cards to give for Easter, but they are so beautiful I decided to frame and keep them for myself.
Mark Tisdale’s work is excellent.
The cards are very high quality. Images are sharp and colors are vibrant!
Chris in New York
The print is absolutely breathtaking! I immediately went and had it framed, I just couldn’t wait to display it.
I’m excited to show off your work to my friends and family. You are one of the most talented photographers I’ve seen and it’s a pleasure to own your work.
Coco in Georgia
The Lighting in this print is stunning! Thank you!
Brie in Utah
I treated myself last year to two of your lovely works of art. The telephone box & the Scottish cottage on a country lane. Love them!
Doreen in Florida
I took the photograph of the house to be framed and the young lady who helped me choose the mats and frame was so taken with the photography that she asked for your name so she could see more on the web.
If you hear from an Erica I want a commission!
Charlotte in Georgia
I got my print today, thank-you so much.
I love it!
Betty in Georgia
Just wanted to let you know, for Christmas, my sister got me a GIANT photo from you of the mountains and sheep in Connemara (Ireland).
It is really beautiful and I love it. Gotta have it matted and framed next.
Erin in Georgia
I just dropped it off at the framing shop on Friday and had a look at it…. it’s absolutely beautiful. I purchased it to replace a painting of Paris and to be honest the way that you have captured Dublin on the river at night makes it look more beautiful than Paris. Beautiful photo, you are very talented.
Bernard in New York
Yes! I got my tractor print in the mail today, and I love it! It is beautiful. It is vibrant and ….perfect… and I am going to frame it and hang it asap! I love it. Thank you Mark! You are an amazing photographer.
Gayla in Georgia
Received the print today! It’s gorgeous! I really can’t thank you enough.
I’ll frame it and hang it in my apartment in NYC as soon as I get back.
Christopher in New York
Received my red phone box cards today. Thank you – they are lovely. Look forward to purchasing from you in the future.
Esther in Stoke On Trent
Best part of my day = getting my prints in the mail!!!!!!!!! Yahoo!!!!!
Absolutely delighted! They are perfect!
Rebecca in Georgia
…thanks to Facebook and finding Mark E Tisdale, a special print will become a memory in my parents’ home this Christmas…
Tracy in Georgia
My daughter sent me this print as an early Mother’s Day gift. It arrived today and I love, love love it!
Sue in Wisconsin
It’s simply beautiful! The colors are so vibrant and powerful.
Karen in Massachusetts
I just concluded my ordering of 11 metal prints of your Atlanta images.
Thanks for your help and artistic talents!
Jon in Georgia
…it is a surprise for my daughter when she comes home from college.. …and I can’t wait for her to see it!!
Nice surprise for her finishing her first year and doing amazing!
Susan in California
Love it… the print arrived today and looks awesome!!
Now I just need to get a suitable frame and get it up where it can be enjoyed.
Kyle in Iowa
I love my “Toomers Drugstore” and “Auburn Supper Club” prints from Mark. He does an amazing job and every painting has detail and awesome colors. His Auburn prints are a must have for fans that love Auburn as much as I do!
Derek in Alabama
It was my father’s birthday present. Thank you Mark. It brought back wonderful memories for him.
Sarah in California
DeAnn just called me so very excited, she received the picture. She thinks it’s just beautiful.
Thank you so much and I’m sure you will be hearing from her too.
Marsha in Florida
I framed the picture of our house and put it under the tree for Sid.
He loved it!
Yvonne in Georgia
I ordered a framed print of the Macon County Clinic and Nurses house . My mother… worked there from 1956 until the clinic closed. Now 80 and retired for many years , she often talks about the many people she remembers from those days, My brother and myself were all born and treated there by Dr. Fred and Dr. Tom. We thought the framed picture would be something she would get great joy from and probably stir a few memories. It is a beautiful artwork and looking forward to seeing her face when she gets this gift on Christmas. Thanks for the Great GIFT!!
Terri in Georgia
Got my print today – Beautiful! Thanks! : )
Can’t wait to get it framed and on the wall.
Amy in Georgia
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About Me
I’m Mark Tisdale, a Georgia artist whose journey started with a love of travel and a desire to capture the beautiful places I saw. It’s a path that has changed my life in ways I never would have imagined. I feel quite fortunate to spend my days doing something I love. I have been working as an artist for over a decade and I have supported myself as a full time artist for eight years and counting.
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