Questions & Answers

I’ve compiled the following list from various reference sources. The date ranges are approximate.

Description: Though earlier postcards are known to exist, most of the earliest you see fall in this date range. In this type, you find government-printed postal cards, which required 1-cent postage, or privately-printed souvenir cards, which required 2-cent postage. A message was not permitted on the reverse side of the postcard, but a small space at the bottom or to the side on the image side was often provided to use for a message.

Description: Private printers were now allowed to print and sell postcards, which contained the inscription "Private Mailing Card". A message was not permitted on the reverse side of the postcard, but a small space at the bottom or to the side on the image side was often provided to use for a message.

Description: Private printers were now allowed to use the inscription "Post Card". A message was not permitted on the reverse side of the postcard, but a small space at the bottom or to the side on the image side was often provided to use for a message. These postcards are often called “undivided backs”.

Description: Postcards with a divided back were now allowed. On the reverse side, a line down the middle separated the correspondence (the left side) from the address (the right side). Message spaces usually no longer appeared on the image side.

Description: During this period, in an effort to save ink and cut costs, a border appeared around the image side.

Description: Postcards contained a high rag content, causing a "weave-like" appearance to the paper. Some postcards still had white borders, while others did not.

Description: Life-like colors were used, giving the appearance of a photograph. However, these were printed images, not real photos. When viewing this type of postcard under magnification, you will see a dot pattern. This is the most popular type of postcard sold today.

Description: These are actual photographs printed on special postcard stock. Captions were often scratched on the negative, creating “handwritten”, white text on the image. Some real photo postcards were mass produced, while others were one of a kind. The photographic paper used, identified by the backside inscriptions or stamp box, can help narrow down the date range of the postcard.

Keep in mind that many photochrome postcards mention "photo" on their back sides, but they are not real photo postcards. Real photo postcard images will not have a dot pattern when viewed under magnification, which is visible with photochrome postcards.