Postcards are one of the easiest kinds of ephemera to date, because their look changed in clear stages over the years. Flip it over and look closely: the back usually tells you when it was made. These dates are for U.S. postcards and are general guides.
Private Mailing Cards (1898 to 1901)
Cards printed with "Private Mailing Card" on the back. Writing was only allowed on the front, around the picture.
Undivided Backs (1901 to 1907)
The back has no dividing line and is just for the address. Messages were written on the front, often squeezed into the margins of the picture. Many say "Post Card" on the back.
Divided Backs (1907 to about 1915)
Starting in 1907, a line down the middle of the back let people write a message on one side and the address on the other. This is often called the golden age of postcards, and many beautiful German-printed cards come from this era.
White Border Era (about 1915 to 1930)
Cards printed with a white border around the image, partly to save ink. Colors are often lighter.
Linen Postcards (about 1930 to 1945)
Printed on paper with a textured, cloth-like finish and bright, saturated colors. Roadside attractions, diners, motels and "Greetings From" big-letter cards are classic linens, and they're very popular today.
Chrome Postcards (1939 to Today)
Glossy, photographic-looking color cards. Early chromes from the 1940s to 1960s, showing old cars, motels and attractions, are collectible.
Real Photo Postcards (RPPCs)
Real photo postcards are actual photographs printed on postcard-backed photo paper, made from about 1900 on. They're among the most collectible postcards, especially small-town street scenes, storefronts, disasters and people at work.
- Look with a magnifier: real photos have smooth, continuous tones. Printed cards show a dot pattern.
- Check the stamp box: photo paper makers like AZO, Velox, Kodak and others printed their names and designs in the stamp box, and collectors use these to narrow down the date.
- Handwritten captions scratched or written into the image are common on RPPCs.
Other Clues
- Postmarks and stamps give a date the card was mailed, though it could have been printed earlier.
- Publisher names like Curt Teich, Detroit Publishing, Raphael Tuck and Sons, and others can help date a card. Curt Teich linens often have codes that date them.
- Cars, clothing and buildings in the image give clues too.
What Makes a Postcard Valuable?
Most common scenic views sell for a few dollars. Collectors pay more for real photo postcards, small-town views, holiday cards by famous artists, advertising cards, unusual subjects and cards in great condition.
Read our beginner's guide to ephemera and our guide to dating antique photographs.
Do you have a postcard from your hometown, or one sent by a family member long ago? What does it say?