How can you tell how old a postcard is?

How can you tell how old a 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.

What is the history of postcards?

The first commercially produced card was created in 1861 by John P. Charlton of Philadelphia, who patented a private postal card, and sold the rights to Hymen Lipman, whose postcards, complete with a decorated border, were marketed as “Lipman’s Postal Card”. These cards had no images.

How do I know if my old postcards are valuable?

Rarity. As with all antique items, rarity brings up the value of postcards. If only a few of the cards were printed or only a small number have survived the ages, your card may be very valuable. However, rarity goes hand-in-hand with other characteristics; if only a single card was printed, that makes it rare.

When did postcards begin?

The first government-produced postcard was issued on May 1, 1873. One side of the postcard was for a message and the other side was for the recipient’s address.

How do you date a vintage postcard?

17-18), postcard size can also be a clue. Ø If the card is old and is larger than 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it may date from before 1898. Ø If the card is old and is slightly smaller than 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it may date from 1898-1902. Ø If the card measures 3.5 by 5.5 inches, it was probably made between 1902 and 1970.

When were postcards colorized?

In the 1880s, many postcards were printed with small sketches or designs (called vignettes) on the message side, initially just in black, but increasingly also in color. Slowly, Germany came to dominate the industry of chromolithography, with many postcards being printed there.

When was the golden age of postcards?

1907 to 1915
In fact the period from 1907 to 1915 is now known as the Golden Age of Postcards. During the peak of the craze, the U.S. Postal Service estimated that a billion penny postcards were mailed each year and many more were sent in letters or purchased to be added to collectors’ albums.

Is it worth keeping old postcards?

The value of old postcards is affected by many variable factors, but demand, condition and rarity often have the greatest influence on how much a postcard’s worth. Childhood Memories: A beautiful postcard by Scottish artist Jessie King (1875 – 1949) from a set of 6 depicting nursery rhymes in an art nouveau style.

What makes real photo postcards valuable to collectors?

Collectible postcards Look for obvious signs of century-old aging and also for the ‘place one-cent stamp here’ box printed on the address side of the card. Collectors also look for trademarks such as VELOX, SOLIO, CYKO, AZO (with a triangle border, pointing up) and ARGO.

Who first used postcards?

The concept of the individual postcard as we now know it was invented by Dr. Heinrich von Stephan in Prussia in 1865. His idea was rejected at the time, but the first postcard was sent in Austria-Hungary four years later, in 1869.

How much is a postcard from 1907 worth?

They’re from 1907, and this card is worth between $75 and $100.

What to do with old postcards?

How to sell old postcards

1. Step 1 – Store your postcards properly.
2. Step 2 – Research the value of your cards.
3. Step 3 – Visit vintage markets & postcard fairs.
4. Step 4 – Trade with a postcard dealer.
5. Step 5 – List your items on eBay.
6. Step 6 – Offer postcards for sale at auction.
7. Step 7 – Sell to an auction house outright.

Why was the postcard so popular in the 1800s?

First restricted by size, color, and other regulations, postcard production blossomed in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Postcards were popular because they were a quick and easy way for individuals to communicate with each other.

When did the first postcard come to America?

The postcard made its way to the United States in 1848, with the sending of a card depicting printed advertising. It was a handmade card, like its British predecessor. Postcards began being commercially produced in the United States in 1861.

Are there different time periods for postcards?

The dates for each time period are not concrete and different sources contain slightly variable dates. It is also important to keep in mind that postcard types produced in one period could also be produced in another, but were simply not produced in the same volume as other card types of the period.

When did the address side of postcards change?

Because of the absence of message space on the address side of postcards, the Post Card Period is also known as the Undivided Back Period. In 1907, a major change on the address side of postcards occurred. This change was prompted by the Universal Postal Congress, the legislative body of the Universal Postal Union.