Antique & Vintage Postcards

A vivid chrome-era street-level view pulls the eye straight down the cobblestones of San Miguel de Allende's main commercial portal toward the iconic neo-Gothic spires of La Parroquia — the pink stone parish church that has become one of the most photographed buildings in all of Mexico. Period automobiles line the curb (a Chevrolet Nova and what appears to be a Rambler American are clearly visible), placing this photograph firmly in the late 1960s to early 1970s. The arcade at left, draped with wrought-iron lanterns and event posters, still operates today as a restaurant and gathering space, a continuity that makes comparing old and new images endlessly rewarding for San Miguel enthusiasts. Photographer Salvador Fematt, who documented central Mexico prolifically during this era, supplied the image for Litográfica Turmex's "Vistacolor" chrome series — a publisher whose cards are eagerly sought by collectors of Mexican regional ephemera.