Emilio Eichenberger

Postcards bearing the imprint of Emilio Eichenberger, from Switzerland, appear as early as 1900.  The cards resemble half of a stereoview, with the image printed on the left side and the right left empty for writing a message.  At least 60 cards comprise a series of  individual and group portraits entitled "Tipo de Indio" or "Indios," most of whom are not specifically indentified by ethnic community.  Posed in front of a painted backdrop with all the formality of a European photography studio, the subjects were probably paid to sit for their photographs, which were sold commercially.  The original portraits were taken on glass plates, and one can read "Giron, Fot." in reverse print on some of the images.  Click on the scans below to see the full-sized postcards, some of which have been laid on top of each other to conserve space on this page:

Nos. 26, 27 and 29
"Indios"

No. 54
Plaza de Escuintla

Escuintla back,
with 1900 postmark

Nos. 60, 57 and 59
"Indios"

When postal authorities allowed written messages on the back of postcards, the image was allowed to fill the front side.  Eichenberger issued a numbered series  that includes general views, along with photographs of the damage caused by devastating earthquakes in 1917-18.  (Damage from the 1773 earthquake that nearly destroyed Antigua is still visible.) The postmarks on these divided-back cards date from the 1930s and 1940s:

Ruinas de
la Calle
del Hospital,
Guatemala

Ruinas del templo
de la Compañía
de Jesús, Antigua

Ruinas del templo
de San Francisco, Guatemala

Ruinas del
Cementerio
General, Guatemala

Ruinas de
San Francisco,
Antigua

Ruinas de
La Recolección,
Antigua

Ruinas de
Santa Clara,
Antigua

Ruinas de
El Carmen,
Antigua