Tanks for the replies. This topics are very relevant. Surely various images are also in other stock sites, but not every, (and in most cases not the same versions, because of editing differences) and not with the same licensing terms. Anyway, hereafter, we mostly aim to exclusive images on vintmage.com (and soon the vast majority will be). But this is a manifold topic. Antique images can be more or less rare. Different paper copies of the same image can be in different state of preservation (ageing, damages, spots, foxing, etc...) and, last but not least, digital version may be very much different from each other, because of different editing and restoring. Copying, reworking, it is not as simple as someone can imagine (Benedectin monks, they knew something about this...), especially focusing on quality (and we must also consider that ideas about quality may be different too).
Yes, old images can be uploaded by anyone. Provided that you have available and you are able to valorize it. New images con be uploaded by anyone too, in other sites. Perhaps there is not much difference between images out-of-copyright and in-copyright, if we consider that new images can by very similiar each other too.
I think that we have to keep in mind that when we speak about out-of-copyright images, we refer exclusively to antique original papers (or single images on other physical media, not magnetic). Anyone involved in digital photography knows that, using good equipment and specific elements (camera, macro lens, lightning, or top level scanners...) and advanced editing software, it is possible to obtain digital products not only as accurate and faithful reproduction, but also better than original papers. You can eliminate stains and signs of aging. And it is possible to mend the torn paper without a trace. And more. What I mean is that, reworking an old image, involves the assignment of a new copyright on a derivative work turned in a new media.
Regarding the availability of old images on traditional stock sites, I want to say that, in my experience, this is somewhat random. Yes, it is true: in some stock sites there are available old images reworked. But is also true that legal and organizational issues (and perhaps also marketing policies) sometimes result in guidelines not exhactly coherent and changing over time. What can have a negative impact on the work of those who have specific interst on the "antique" diffusion on one side and in finding it regularly and growing, on the other side. Vintmage's idea is that the creation of a specific niche marketplace can better address the matter than a "generalist" stock website. At least, this is our idea and this idea whe hope and want put into practice on vintmage.com
Thank you
Antonio