Located in Mercersburg, Pa.

Guide to Dating Old Postcards

The most common way to date a postcard is to look at its postmark if it has been used.  But what if your card is in unused condition.  This makes it a little harder so I have put together some information to help you date your cards.

Real Photo Postcards (My personal favorite)

One of the most common ways to date a unused real photo postcard is to determine what type of photographic paper it is printed on. The most common photographic papers used from 1904 to today are: Agfa Ansco (1930s-1940s, Ansco (1940-1960), Argo (1905-1920), Azo (five different designs spanning 1907-1940s), Cyko (1904-1920s), Defender (two designs spanning 1910-1940), Devolite Peerless (1950 and after), Dops (1925-1942), Ekc (1940-1950), Ekkp (1904-1950), Eko (1950-present), Kodak (1950-present), Kruxo (two designs spanning 1907-1920s), Noko (1907-1920s), PMO (1907-1915), Sailboat (1905-1908), Solio (1903-1920s), Velox (three designs spanning 1907-1914), Vitava (1925-1934).   Another way to date real photo cards is by the image itself. Many real photo postcards have some type of vehicle in the image. Cars are perhaps the most easily identified. Many older real photo postcard images also contain bicycles, carriages and other types of conveyances that can assist you in dating the photograph. Some real photo postcards contain signs or other identification marks. For instance, you can research the history of a business in the image if the location can be ascertained.

Pioneer Era (1893-1898)

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 (1898-1901)

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Dates by postal rates

If you are trying to date a used card and can not make out the postmark date you can also date cards by the stamps that were used.  This is done by the cost of the stamp and the number of stamps used.  Below you will find a chart of the cost in cents for mailing postcards at any time in the past.

Please note that this is for postcards mail in the United States only