Benjamin Franklin said there were only two things certain in life: death and taxes. But I’d like to add a third. For sure, at least for the last 45 years and hopefully in every October of the future, there will be a Postcard Show in Wichita, Kansas.
There is one more fact – the very best way to advertise a postcard show is with a postcard. And, if you want a postcard to have its maximum impact on its recipient, it has to be bright, beautiful, and cleverly drawn.
That is when you call, write, or email, America’s foremost postcard artist – Rick Geary!
Rick Geary was born in 1946 in Kansas City, Missouri, and grew up in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from the University of Kansas in Lawrence, where his first cartoons were published in the University Daily Kansan.
He worked as staff artist for two weekly papers in Wichita before moving to San Diego in 1975.
He began work in comics in 1977 and was for thirteen years a contributor to the Funny Pages of National Lampoon. His comic stories have also been published in Heavy Metal, Dark Horse Comics, and the DC Comics/Paradox Press Big Books.
During a four-year stay in New York, Rick’s illustrations appeared regularly in The New York Times Book Review. His illustrations have also been seen in MAD, Spy, Rolling Stone, The Los Angeles Times, and American Libraries.
He has written and illustrated three children’s books based on The Mask for Dark Horse and two Spider-Man children’s books for Marvel.
His children’s comic “Society of Horrors” ran in Disney Adventures magazine from 1999 to 2006. He has also done comics for Gumby.
In 1989, he started the multi-volume true crime, highly acclaimed series Treasury of Murder with NBM Graphic Novels for which he is mostly known today.
In 2007, after more than thirty years in San Diego, Rick and his wife Deborah moved to the town of Carrizozo, New Mexico.
And for postcard collectors, Rick has been a devoted contributor to the Wichita Postcard Club by making himself available to prepare the club’s annual show postcard. It goes without saying that his cards are highly collectable.
The following array of postcards is offered to evoke the memories of postcard collectors of the past, the present and the future, who have been fortunate to attend an annual show, purchase additions to their collections at the show, and enjoy the company of the world’s happiest collectors in Wichita.
The early years: the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 10th.
The 20th, 21st, 30th, and 33rd
The 37th and 41st
The 38th, 43rd, & 42nd
Salute to WPC & Rick Geary
With a proud hand, Postcard History extends a wave and salute to the officers and members of the Wichita Postcard Club and to Rick Geary for his devotion to the club.
We wish you all the best at your
45th Postcard Show
Wichita, Kansas
October 21-22, 2023
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Postcard History readers may join your publisher
and editor in this salute by leaving a comment below.
The Postcard History staff will forward your best wishes to Wichita.
While it’s obvious that the members of the Wichita Club have kept this show going through so many years with dedication and hard work, there is also an element of luck because every club isn’t fortunate enough to have someone with Mr. Geary’s talent on their team. I wish them success with their 45th show and may there be many more.
Those postcards are beautifully drawn. Cartoons like these are difficult to draw. Mr.Geary’s drawings are not only well drawn but funny. Thank you for introducing them to me.
A very nice and well-deserved salute to the annual Wichita PC Show and to artist Rick Geary.
Love his style! I’m lucky to live near the York, PA postcard show (2-hour drive), and the NYC show (1 1/2 hour by train).
Quel plaisir de lire cet article depuis la France grâce à Hal Ottaway qui me l’a envoyé. Je collectionne les cartes de Rick Geary depuis plus de 35 ans également grâce à lui. C’est un illustrateur génial dont j’ai aussi quelques livres.
Bravo à tous les membres du Wichita Postcard Club d’avoir permis à Rick de poursuivre cette collaboration.
Jean-Michel Rivière – Cahors – France
Bravo to the Wichita Postcard Club shows, so well managed by Hal Ottaway over its many years of success! And to Rick Geary’s wonderful artistic talents!
Thank you both 👌👍👏
Our San Jose Postcard Club looks to the Wichita Postcard Club as a big brother. Their club is solid, well run and does a wonderful job in helping and featuring all of the clubs devoted to postcards.
Rick Geary’s humor and great artistry add so much to our hobby. He is a jewel that is known and respected by all.
Have a good show, Wichita! I’ve enjoyed Rick’s work for many years, and even remember his appearance as a Jeopardy! contestant.
Awesome article to the great Rick Geary and the fabulous Wichita show led by the incomparable Hal Ottaway.
Reunion week in Wichita begins one week before the Wichita show when many gather at a nearby hotel. This is a gathering of long time friends and the welcoming of those who are new. Arriving early in the week allows for the exchange of warm greetings and meals together as we talk about friends, family, and the search for fabulous cards. Hal Ottaway leads the way with a new sidekick, Alan Milbrath, as the two plan the program laced with one surprise after another starting with a club sponsored welcoming desk and Rick and Deborah Geary presenting us with new… Read more »
Thanks for this article. I had never heard of or seen Rick Geary pcs until this article, they are bright, colorful and clever. I shall watch for them in the future.
Paul, if you will please send me your snail mail address I will be happy to send you several Rick Geary-designed postcards to help get this part of your collection STARTED. Thanks for your kind words.