China In Those Days by Thomas Brandt at German Ambassador Residence, KL

Hi! How was your Chinese New Year celebrations and holidays so far? 

Mine was filled with 3Fs: family, friends and food.

Sometimes, I wonder and would like to see what is it like China In Those Days… flash back history via pictures and postcards. I attended a presentation of the most beautiful and interesting postcards from Thomas Brandt vast collections, which are also contained in his coffee table book “China in Those Days” at German Ambassador Residence in KL on 17^th Jan evening.

If you are postcards and pictures lovers you might find this book remarkable because it has 1600 pictures from 1895 to 1914. Again, that day was packed with activities and work, I remembered I Lou Sang twice on that day, lunch and dinner. 

with Mr. Thomas Brandt

Presentation by Thomas Brandt, General Manager of Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, show casing samples of his vast postcard collection from china and Overseas Chinese, accompanied by historical and cultural facts.

Guest 

China in Those Days

China in Those Days, Insights into Historical China through Postcards of the Time by Thomas Brandt. The author, the owner of arguably the largest collection of postcards of China and the Chinese Diaspora, not only shares over 1500 highlights from his vast collection, but in the detailed accompanying text gives us an ideal introduction to Chinese life at home and abroad from the late 19th to the mid 20th century.

At the turn of the century, it was a privilege to send and receive pictorial postcards from far flung lands like China. Photography was an expensive novelty and snapshots from other parts of the world were rare, if not unattainable. 

Thomas Brandt will provide an illustrated presentation of his collection of postcards from China, which date as far back as 1895. In addition to their importance as memorabilia, this vintage collection preserves China’s social history in a unique way. These snapshots are not to be found in museums or national archives and few remain for our education.

This massive gold-edged volume presents some 1600 picture postcards sent from China in the late 19th century and early 20th century. They illustrated Chinese scenes, people and activities. By the subjects selected and the way they are depicted the cards can give many insights into lives and attitudes of the period. 

A full introduction on the history of the production and usage of picture postcards in general and in China is followed by the section in which several hundred cards show China's people and life. 

A section on town views and studies of Christian Mission activities, and the 1907 Peking-Paris Motor Rally is followed by cards from the Chinatowns of San Francisco, New York, Los Angeles, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. Each card is annotated and much background information is given. This book is published in bi-lingual English and Mandarin. 

H.E. Dr. Gunter Gruber, German’s Ambassador to Malaysia Residence KL (in red shirt) and H.E. Mr. Chai Xi, China's Ambassador to Malaysia (in brown suits)