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Vintage Postcards

For Postcard Collectors: How Do I know when my Postcard was Made?

Do you know what Deltiology is? It is the formal name for collecting
postcards. Some for of a Postcard has been around since 1869. Prior to
that, there were letters that had envelopes with pictures printed on them.
There are several distinct eras, or periods for postcards.

There is the Pre-Postcard era

1840-1869. This is the era described above. Letters having pictures
printed in the envelopes.

Pioneer Era

1870- 1898 Postcards came into their own during this time, being produced
in connection with the Franco German War of 1870.

Private Mailing Card Era

1898-1901 Up through this 1901 date, these were posted with a 1 cent
stamp Private Mailing Cards and all of the previous cards, allowed only
for a short note written on the front of the card. The only allowable
writing on the back of the card was the address of the recipient.

Undivided Back Era

1901-1907 By now the Private Mailing Card had evolved into a Post Card.
Still, writing was allowed only on the front.

Divided Back Era
1907-1915 Divided backs are now mostly universal. Imported postcards
become less important, as costs rise and war breaks out around the world.

Early Modern Era (Sometimes Know as the White BorderEra)

1916 to 1930 Using American Technology, many cards were produced in the
US. The quality was generally inferior to the imported ones, but necessary
to compete in the saturated market.

Linen Card Era

1930-1945 This is where you will find a linen texture on the various
cards, with vivid colors, and a huge selection of assorted comic and
political humor cards.

Photochrome Era

1939-Present These are the Picture postcards that many of us know. They
represent many of the Hotel and Motel views that are so collectible, as
well as the Wish You Were Here types, many of us even sent to each other.

The entire article can be found here:

http://www.shilohpostcards.com/webdoc2.htm

Why buy from us?

I have bought and sold thousands of postcards. They are fascinating,
and I have done a lot of research on them.My favorites were the group of
family cards, where it appeared that the dad worked on the Railroad.
He always talked about when he would expect to be home, and told stories
of his adventures of the day. Helping shovel coal, or one…he said that he
helped the passengers shovel snow off the train tracks…Those were the good old days!!

Kids should all have a few antique postcards…from the first quarter of the 1900’s.
They would learn so much!! History, communication, pennmanship, lifestyles, yes, and even manners!
They would not know what to make of “Dear Master Jones” or My Dearest Mrs Smith!

All items purchased from my store, including Postcards, are eligible for a 15% discount, when
the total volume surpasses $35.00.

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