1982 HYATT REGENCY Phoenix FOUNTAIN Modern Architecture USED Crazy Horse STAMP

"VANISHING ARCHITECTURAL TREASURE - DISAPPEARING PIECE OF 1980s URBAN DESIGN

You're viewing a rare surviving piece of Phoenix history - a postally used chrome postcard capturing the striking modernist design of early 1980s downtown Phoenix architecture.

This increasingly scarce documentation of the Hyatt Regency and Phoenix Civic Plaza fountain continues to vanish as physical records of 1980s urban development fade into institutional archives or deteriorate with time.

Description

This exceptional postcard showcases the dramatic contemporary design of the Hyatt Regency Phoenix hotel and adjacent Phoenix Civic Plaza as they appeared in 1982.

The professional photography beautifully captures the hotel's distinctive cylindrical rooftop structure along with the eye-catching modernist fountain sculpture in the foreground featuring fan-like radiating metal elements rising from a reflecting pool.

What makes this card particularly valuable to architecture enthusiasts is the pristine documentation of this quintessential early 1980s urban design aesthetic with its bold geometric shapes reflective surfaces and integration of water features and landscaping.

The photograph is masterfully composed against a brilliant Arizona blue sky with scattered clouds showcasing the desert light that makes Phoenix's architecture so distinctive.

This comprehensive view offers a perfect time capsule of Phoenix's downtown development during the early 1980s boom period - a moment in urban design that can never be recaptured.

Historical Significance

This postcard documents a pivotal period in Phoenix's urban development when the city was establishing itself as a modern convention and business destination.

What you're seeing is the physical embodiment of Phoenix's transformation from a small desert city to a major metropolitan center complete with distinctive modernist public spaces and striking architectural statements.

For architectural historians this card provides a window into the bold civic design philosophy of the early 1980s when American cities were embracing dramatic sculptural elements and water features in their public spaces.

The meticulously detailed hotel description on the back emphasizes the city's emerging status as a tourism and convention destination highlighting attractions like the '60-plus velvety green golf courses' that defined Phoenix's leisure identity.

This image represents a specific moment in the Southwest's architectural history that has increasingly become the subject of renewed interest as mid-century and 1980s design becomes more appreciated and studied.

Authentic Period Correspondence

Unlike mere unused tourist souvenirs this card carries real historical weight as a genuine piece of communication from 1982 complete with period 13-cent Crazy Horse stamp Phoenix postmark and authentic handwritten message.

The handwritten correspondence mentioning daily activities a planned cookout and casual remarks about 'the slacks' provides a fascinating glimpse into everyday American life in 1982.

For collectors of social history the combination of modern architectural imagery with casual personal correspondence creates a dual-layer historical document.

The special 'ASTHMA WEEK MAY 1-7' postal cancellation adds another dimension of ephemeral historical interest that makes this card especially rich with period detail.

This combination of architectural documentation and authentic period use transforms a simple postcard into a multi-faceted historical artifact spanning 40+ years.

Condition

Good used condition that preserves this architectural vision with remarkable clarity despite four decades of age.

The front image maintains vibrant color saturation that allows you to appreciate the rich blue sky the geometric precision of the hotel structure and the reflective qualities of the fountain's metal sculpture.

This authentic postally used example shows only the expected postal handling wear - increasingly difficult to find as genuine used correspondence from this period continues to disappear.

The handwritten message remains clearly legible the 13-cent Crazy Horse stamp is intact and the postmark is visible - all essential elements that confirm its authenticity as a genuine piece of 1982 correspondence.

Age/Era

This postcard dates precisely to June 8 1982 as confirmed by both the handwritten date and postmark - a level of precise dating rarely available with unused postcards.

Published by Petley Studios of Phoenix a premier Arizona postcard publisher known for high-quality architectural and landscape photography.

The premium Plastichrome printing process produced the vivid color saturation that has allowed this image to retain its visual impact for more than 40 years.

This postcard has now itself become a historical artifact that documents both a significant urban landmark and provides an authentic snapshot of early 1980s design aesthetics and personal correspondence.

Special Features

The exceptionally striking modernist fountain sculpture in the foreground makes this much more visually compelling than standard hotel postcards from this era.

The card captures both the Hyatt Regency and the Phoenix Civic Plaza in a single composition documenting the relationship between these important urban developments.

The photographer Don Ceppi's artistic composition elevates this beyond tourist memorabilia to a thoughtful architectural study that captures the essence of early 1980s urban aesthetics.

The detailed description on the reverse about local attractions provides valuable historical context about how Phoenix marketed itself to visitors during this period of rapid growth.

Rarity

While general views of Phoenix hotels exist in reasonable numbers postally used examples with clear dates intact stamps and complete messages have become increasingly scarce as most were discarded over the intervening decades.

The specific combination of architectural interest authentic period use and special postal cancellation creates a multi-dimensional collectible that transcends standard tourist postcards.

As interest in preserving visual records of 1980s urban development continues to grow these authentic documentations of now-altered cityscapes take on greater historical significance.

Once these authentic visual records of how Phoenix appeared in 1982 are gone they're gone forever—this may be your only opportunity to acquire this specific documentation before it disappears permanently into an architectural archive.

Collector's Note

This postcard represents a perfect addition to collections focusing on modern architecture urban development hotel history or Phoenix/Arizona memorabilia.

The combination of striking architectural imagery authentic postal use and precise dating makes this particularly valuable for serious collectors of 20th century urban documentation.

For architectural enthusiasts the distinctive modernist fountain sculpture and cylindrical hotel structure represent important examples of early 1980s design aesthetics that are increasingly appreciated by design historians.

This may be your ONLY CHANCE to own this specific visual documentation of Phoenix's urban landscape as it appeared in June 1982 before it disappears forever into specialized architectural archives.

Shipping Information

Your vintage postcard will be carefully packaged in an archival sleeve and shipped in a rigid mailer to ensure safe arrival.

Buy multiple postcards and pay only ONE low shipping cost!

Don't miss this rare opportunity to own a vanishing piece of Phoenix architectural history that perfectly captures the bold modernist design aesthetic of early 1980s urban development."

 _gsrx_vers_1715 (GS 9.9.2 (1715))

Offered by Gosla Antiques & Collectibles, purveyors of antiquities, curiosities and collectible wares. Dispatched from Pennsylvania, United States, with tracking.