Divided Back era

Although there were earlier scattered issues, most pioneer cards in today's collections begin with the cards placed on sale at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois, on May 1, 1893. These were illustrations on government printed postal cards and privately printed souvenir cards. The government postal cards had the printed 1 cent stamp while the souvenir cards required a 2 cent adhesive postage stamp to be applied to it. Writing was not permitted on the address side of the cards.

Private Mailing Card Era (1989-1901)

On May 19, 1898, private printers were granted permission, by an act of Congress, to print and sell cards that bore the inscription "Private Mailing Card." Today we call these cards 'PMC's'. Postage required was now a 1 cent adhesive stamp. A dozen or more American printers began to take postcards seriously. Writing was not permitted on the address side.

This is a Private Mailing Card mailed from Galveston, Texas in 1903. Notice the space at the bottom of the image for the message, as messages on the back were not yet allowed. The cancel on on the front is from New York City, where the card left the United States on its way to England.

This is the back of the same PMC. Notice the words "Private Mailing Card" and "Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898." Even if this card hadn't been canceled with a 1903 postmark, this back would help you date the card to the period of 1898 to 1901. Also note how someone has removed the postage stamp. This is a practice that should be discouraged, as usually the postcard with the stamp is much more valuable than any common 1 cent stamp from that period.

Post Card Era (1901-1907)

The use of the word "POST CARD" was granted by the government to private printers on December 24, 1901. Writing was still not permitted on the address side. In this era private citizens began to take black & white photographs and have them printed on paper with post card backs.


This is an undivided back card from the "Post Card Era." Note the space on the front of the card for the message (None in this case, however).	The Post Card Era cards featured undivided backs, and generally when people today use the terms "undivided back," "ub," or "udb," the card dates from this period unless otherwise specified.

Divided Back Era (1907-1914)

Postcards with a divided back were permitted March 1, 1907. The address to be written on the right side and the left side was for writing messages. Many millions of cards were published in this era. Up to this point most postcards were printed in Germany which was far ahead of this country in the lithographic processes. With the advent of World War I the supply of postcards had to come from England and the United States.


Here is a divided back card. It looks similar to many udb's, but notice how there is no space to write a message on the front.	This is the back of a different divided back card. The line down the middle separates the message portion from the address portion.

White Border Era (1915-1930)

Most of our postcards were printed in the USA during this period. To save ink, a border was left around the view thus we call them "White Border" cards. High cost of labor, inexperience and public taste caused production of poor quality cards. High competition in a narrowing market caused many publishers to go out of business.


White border cards often look similar to early divided backs, except for the tell-tale white border that usually indicates it is a newer card than most cards without it.	The backs of white border cards often look very similar to early divided backs. One trend that seems to occur is addition of longer descriptions, as seen on the back of this white border card.

Linen Era (1930-1944)

New printing processes allowed printing on post cards with high rag content that caused a "linen-like" finish. These cheap cards allowed the use of gaudy dyes for coloring. The firm of Curt Teich flourished on their line of linen postcards. Many important events in history are recorded only on these cards.


Many linen cards have white borders, but others are "full bleed." That is, their picture goes all the way to the edge such as the case with this one shown here. Look at a linen closely and you'll see the "weave" texture of the paper--it probably doesn't show in this scan. Linens are also recognizable from their vibrant, somewhat non-lifelike colors.	The backs of linens look very much like white border cards.

Photochrome Era (1945 to date)

The "chrome" postcards started to dominate the scene soon after they were launched by the Union Oil Company in their western service stations in 1939. Mike Roberts pioneered with his "WESCO" cards soon after World War II. Three dimensional postcards also appeared in this era.


Here's a very early chrome card showing the sunset at Big Bend National Park. The fuzzy colors are typical of early chrome cards. The plastic layer is also starting to peel away from the backing. Early chromes often use the word "chrome" in some way on the back, too. This one is called "Plastichrome" by Colorpicture, Boston.	This is the back of the same card. Most early chromes have backs that look fairly similar to linens.

Chromes are the most popular type of postcard sold today in souvenir shops. This is a chrome from the early 1960s. It features a wavy edge often called a "deckled" edge or "scalloped" edge. The second image shows a detail of this edge. Because of their life-like colors sometimes beginning collectors think these are "real photo" cards. They are not. See below for an explanation.

Hold-to-light (HTL's)

Hold-to-light cards have a design cut out of the card and that part is covered with thinner paper. When the card is held to a light, it comes through the thinner paper with a design. A simple example would be a stained glass window with the windows cut out and covered with paper. These date from early in the century, but exactly when I don't know.

Real Photos (RP's)

Real photos are just that. A photograph was taken and developed. A caption was often hand-written on the negative, often glass. The photograph was printed on special postcard stock. Many real photos are one of a kind. Some were, relatively, mass produced, usually by a photographer. Some clues are that if the caption is not neat, it probably was one of a kind. Mass produced cards usually were neater. Some of them carry the name of the photographer. Real photos also date from early in the century, but are still being made today. See the examples below.

How does one recognize Real Photo (RP) cards?

People often ask how to recognize Real Photo cards. The easiest way is to look at the card under slight magnification. RP's do not have the dot pattern seen on modern Photochrome cards under a magnifying glass. Most printed cards will have this dot pattern, much like a photograph printed in a magazine. Additionally, RPs can be identified by the photographic paper used. This is often indicated on the back (see the next question). Also, the captions were often "scratched" or marked on the negative in some other way that leaves the text white in color. Remember, not all black-and-white cards are Real Photos, and not all Real Photos are black-and-whites.


This is a real photo card from 1909. Notice the photographer's handwritten title and his signature in white text. This is typical for a true "real photo" card.	This is the back of a different RP card. Note that this one doesn't state "photo" or "photograph." This is common. So don't rely on that to guide your way. After all, many "chromes" mention "photo" on their backs, and they are definitely not real photos. This card has an AZO mark that helps date it to 1918-1930.

What is a "Modern" postcard?

Sometimes the question comes up as to what the definition of a "modern" postcard exactly is. Many collectors of antique postcards consider cards made after the "White Border Era" to be "modern" cards (including linens). Others consider only photochrome cards to be "modern" cards. Finally, others consider only the most recent, currently-published cards to be "modern." If you're in doubt as to what another postcarder is talking about, it is best to ask. This especially true when in comes to setting up a trade in email. If they say "No Modern Cards," find out what the mean by that before you send them a card. If you don't want linens or newer, it is probably better to say "No linens or newer cards" rather than "no moderns."

What exactly is a "Standard" postcard? What is a "Continental" card?

Finally, the question comes up often about what exactly "standard" and "continental" postcards are. "Standard" postcards measure 3.5x5.5" (89x140mm) while "continentals" measure 4x6" (100x150mm). Of course, these are approximations. Individual manufacturers and cards can and do vary. In some regions regulations specified other slightly smaller or larger sizes. Although cards that are 4x6" (100x150mm) are the most common card today, when a postcard says "standard," they mean something smaller.

What do the abbreviations mean on the back of Real Photo cards?

Well, we really don't know them all either, but friendly postcard dealer Ron Playle (http://www.playle.com/) has provided us with a list below that will help you date the cards by these abbreviations and logos. For additional information, see http://www.dcr.net/~ussky/photo.htm.

Note that Real Photo cards are still being produced today. Some of them are professionally produced with titles, descriptions, and postcard backs, but they bear the tell-tale "Printed on Kodak Paper."

What are some of the abbreviations I see used with respect to postcards?

Some of these terms are described in the "Brief History of Postcards and their Types" section above.

A SHORT HISTORY OF THE POST CARD IN THE UNITED STATES

Pioneer Era (1893-1898)