Dating antique postcards

How old is my old postcard?

People often find themselves in possession of an old postcard and want to know how old it is. If the postcard is used, the most obvious solution is to check the date on the postmark. However, there are many vintage postcards out there that were never mailed, so here are some clues to determining the age of your post card.

How to identify and date postcards?

In identifying and dating postcards there are specific eras, defined by both style and dates; however, these dates do not account for the transition from one era to the next. It is important to remember that these “Eras” refer to the printing on the back of the postcard.

What are the different types of vintage postcards?

All different types of interesting old collectable vintage postcards, from topographical UK and around the world to social history and transport. Commercial Street and Town Hall Newport South Wales 1916 postcard view of busy street and shops

Can postmark postcards have a date on them?

Postmark Postcards that have been posted may have a legible postmark. However, this date may not be the same as the date the photograph was taken.

How can I tell how old my postcard is?

The postage stamp can help you figure out an approximate age of your postcard. There may be an exact amount of how much postage required to mail the postcard printed on the back of the postcard in the stamp box. The chart below shows the postcard postage rates and may be helpful in determining the age of your card.

What are the best old postcards to collect?

The German cards were of exceptional quality and are some of the best examples of old postcards available. However, World War I shut down the German printing presses and cards started being printed in the United States or imported from Great Britain.

How old is a postcard if it has an undivided back?

If your postcard has an undivided back, it is from 1907 or earlier. Does the postcard back indicated that it was printed in Germany? Many early postcards were printed in Germany.

When were postcards first sold in the US?

The first commercial postcards produced in the U.S. were sold at the 1893 Worlds Columbian Exposition in Chicago Illinois. These were the first privately printed souvenir postcards in the country. Does your card have the words Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Act of Congress on May 19, 1898 on the back?

How old is my old postcard?

People often find themselves in possession of an old postcard and want to know how old it is. If the postcard is used, the most obvious solution is to check the date on the postmark. However, there are many vintage postcards out there that were never mailed, so here are some clues to determining the age of your post card.

How do you date a postcard?

You can also date postcards by whether they are white border, linen, chrome etc. or for real photo (rppc) by the info on the stamp box. Lucky you for having a pc from the 1870s!

What is a postmark on a letter?

A postmark indicates the location and date the Postal Service accepted custody of a mailpiece, and it cancels affixed postage. Since 1979, the Postal Service’s Postal Operations Manual (POM) has provided standards for postmarks applied to single-piece First-Class Mail®.

When is a postcard in public domain?

If the postcard was a corporate authorship, it is in public domain 95 years after the publication or 120 years from when it was first created. Between 1978 and March 1, 1989 – without an initial public copyright notice, but then a copyright notice was filed after publication, are in public domain only 70 years after the death of the author.