A Slice of Bygone Times and Timely Every-Day Inspirations

San Mateo, Calif. – May 15, 2007 – Koala Jo Publishing today announced the release of its Klassic Koalas: Vintage Postcards and Timeless Quotes of Wisdom, edited by Joanne Ehrich. It contains stunning black and white postcards, set off by colorful backgrounds and accompanied by quotes for all ages.

The delightful koala, Australia’s most endearing marsupial, plays, sleeps, and clings its way through these pages of vintage postcards. Gentle and friendly, the koalas captured in these images from decades past offer a glimpse into their own simpler, kinder world—a world outside time.

The idyllic nature of these peaceful shots is a true bright spot, not only for the present, but also for their own time. Many of these pictures were taken at one of three foresighted Australian institutions: Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary, Koala Park Sanctuary, and Taronga Zoo. Although the koala population was already under stress from hunting, these early pioneers of koala conservation offered a safe haven where koalas could live and thrive without threat. That safe environment for the animal that has become synonymous with the continent of Australia comes through clearly in the photos.

Pictures that highlight the tranquil and accepting nature of Australia’s most famous creature are accompanied by words of wisdom from some of the greatest and most compassionate minds the world has known, reminding us that the world is a better place when we extend patience and peace to those around us.

The black-and-white photos of winsome koalas speak for themselves as they peer out from a time far removed from the hectic pace of the present. In groups and singly, they interact with people and animals in their own sweet ways. Babies cling to their mothers and ride on the backs of gentle dogs, taking the world at face value. Adults interact with one another or simply survey the world from their lofty homes.

These glimpses into the past float eloquently against solid, soft-colored backgrounds. The quotations offer not just profound thoughts, but also their own visual delights in imaginative layouts hinting of shapes from candles to blossoms, circles to paths, and even the face of the koala itself.

Make someone you love smile today with a gift of koalas.

About the Editor:
Joanne Ehrich lives in San Mateo, California, USA, where she works as a graphic designer, with emphasis on print-, Web-, and user-interface design, and as an illustrator. She has attended photography trade school and holds a University degree in printmaking. Joanne has created numerous etchings, lithographs, and monotype prints, as well as paintings of animals and landscapes. She is also the author, editor, and designer of critically acclaimed Koalas: Moving Portraits of Serenity.


Availability
Order Information: Klassic Koalas: Vintage Postcards and Timeless Quotes of Wisdom, by Joanne Ehrich; ISBN: 978-0-9764698-3-4; softcover, 96 Pages; 46 postcards; Category: Antiques & Collectibles/Postcards; May 15, 2007; $34.99 USD; Koala Jo Publishing, San Mateo, CA; Distributed to the trade by Baker & Taylor, Brodart, Blackwells, and S&B Books wholesalers. For international and online orders please visit www.koalajo.com.

###