AY Honors/Postcards/Answer Key

1. Relate briefly the story of the beginning of the postcards in your country.

The first postal type card in the United States was a privately printed card copyrighted in 1861 by J.P. Carlton. This copyright was later transferred to H.L. Lipman. The "Lipman Postal Cards"

2. How was your country’s postal system affected by the coming of postcards?

These private mailing cards were to be posted with one cent stamps (the same rate as government postals). This was perhaps the most significant event to enhance the use of private postals.

3. What are the mailing rates for postcards and letters in your country?

For this answer check your country's postal service website or ask at the post office.

4. What is the term used in your country for postcards collecting?

In the United States, postcard collecting is called Deltiolgy.

5. Give a brief description of each of the following eras of postcards:

a. Pre-Postcard Era

1840-1869 The envelopes were often printed with pictures of comics, Valentines and music. Thousands of patriotic pictures appeared on U.S. envelopes during the Civil War period of 1861-1865, these are now known as Patriotic Covers.

b. Pioneer Era

1870-1898 The first postal card was suggested by Dr. Emanuel Herrmann, in 1869 and was accepted by the Hungarian government in the same year. Thus the first cards printed with the intention for use as souvenirs were the cards placed on sale in 1893 at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago.

c. Private Mailing Card Era

1898-1901 Starting in 1898, American publishers were allowed to print and sell cards bearing the inscription, "Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Act of Congress on May 19, 1898"

d. Undivided Back Era

1901-1907 In 1901, the U.S. Government granted the use of the words "Post Card" to be printed on the undivided back. Writing was still limited to the front.

e. Divided Back Era

1907-1915 By this period, divided backs were almost universal, except in a few monopolistic governments. Previous to and during this period, a majority of U.S. postcards were printed in Europe, especially in Germany whose printing methods were regarded as the best in the world.

f. Early Modern Era (White Border)

1916-1930 During this period, American technology advanced allowing us to produce quality cards. The cards of this era were usually printed with white borders around the picture.

g. Linen Card Era

1930-1945 Among the best cards of this era are the political humor cards of World War II. Technology during this time enabled publishers to print cards on a linen-type paper stock with very bright and vivid colors.

h. Photo chrome Era

1939-present "Chrome" postcards started to take over the marketplace immediately after they were launched by the Union Oil Company.  Sold in their western service stations, they were easily produced, were of high photo quality and of most importance, they were in true living color. By 1945 they replaced both linen and black & white postcards in roadside postcard racks. 

6. Briefly describe each type of postcards.

a. View Cards

View cards offer historic reference to buildings, streets, and even towns which may no longer exist or that have changed significantly over time.

b. Greeting Cards

The greeting card is almost as basic as the view card in the earlier eras, though as time has shown, its popularity declined in later eras. Christmas, Easter, birthdays and most other holidays and special occasions were well represented and are fairly common. However, some greetings such as the "Labor Day" cards, are considered scarce.

c. Historical Cards

Historical cards are printed to commemorate events such as war, social problems, expositions, parades, coronations, or politics. These cards offer much to the serious collector in the way of increased value. This is a wide open field with much to offer anyone interested in twentieth century history.

d. Art Cards

This rarity, combined with the skill of the artist of this period, make these cards very popular among collectors today. To better understand this popularity, think of these cards as 3 1/2" x 5 1/2" original high quality prints, which they are, instead of as postcards. Nowhere in the world of art does such quality material exist at such low prices. This booming market drew the very best artists of the period, creating a wealth of quality material unmatched in the art world.

e. Photographic Cards

These real photo art studies of beautiful women, children, lovers, etc, are often hand-tinted in great detail and in colors which almost defy description.