Want

A pivotal figure in ’60s British culture, John Kasmin has built an extensive collection of predominantly early 20th-century postcards. Traveling to fairs in Europe and the United States, his inquisitive nature has led him to find images of remarkable quality and poignancy. Beggars are one of the most evocative of the many subjects in his eclectic collection, and the selection in this book reflects the arresting imagery and engaging—although often disturbing—social narratives that first attracted him to the motif. Kasmin questions the reasons these cards were made and why they were more common in some countries, while his brief commentaries establish the origin of each postcard and describe its appeal.