Well-known in Belarus and abroad, he has published 13 albums of postcards over the past six years, via three Belarusian publishing houses. All are united under a single title: In Search of the Lost. Editions include Minsk: Time Travel, Stars of the Motherland, In Search of the Lost, Synagogues, St. Alexander Nevsky: Orthodox Churches on Old Postcards from late 19th-early 20th Century, and Great Patriotic War Monuments on Old Postcards.Speaking at the launch of his latest edition, Mr. Likhodedov noted, “In presenting and commenting upon old postcards from my private collection, I’ve tried to create a postcard map of Belarus and its neighbouring regions. I’m convinced that photos reveal much about personalities and events from the past. They may be the best path to finding the truth. In my many years of collecting, I’ve realised that postcards have unique energy, inspiring a new perspective within us. My readers have encouraged me to keep collecting and publishing new albums.”
Minsk bookshop managers Olga Glukhovskaya (Akademkniga) and Alla Zmieva (Book Salon) confirm that the In Search of the Lost series sold out quickly; all the books released from 2007 to 2012 were popular. “Taking into consideration how often we receive inquiries from buyers, it’s probably time to re-publish many of the old albums, since they’ll certainly sell!”
The Director and Editor-in-Chief of Zvezda (Star) Publishing House, Ales Karlyukevich, notes that they intend to launch two new books by Mr. Likhodedov — both featuring old postcards never before included in the series.
Clearly, old postcards have a unique educational role in teaching us about the past, as speeches by the collector, museum staff, publishers and other guests confirmed. They are a vital national resource, allowing us to imagine how it would have been to travel through Belarus in days gone by. It’s hoped that Mr. Likhodedov will collate many more albums for the In Search of the Lost series.
Vileika museum employee Olga Kolosova tells us, “We’ve long been anticipating the title Vileika in Old Postcards, as Mr. Likhodedov has twice arranged postcard shows in our town. We’ve regarded these as a ‘preface’ for a future book.” Mr. Likhodedov was born in Polotsk so his collection features many postcards from his home town; it seems likely that an edition dedicated to that ancient settlement will one day also be added to the series.
By Konstantin Ladutko
