Photograph Identification Guide
by David Rudd Cycleback

Chapter 11 : REAL PHOTO POSTCARDS

(c) cycleback 2003, 2005 all rights reserved

Duration: 1901 - Popular use: Early 1900s-1920s A real photo postcard is a postcard with a genuine photographic image on one side. Real photo postcards were used for a variety of purposes. Most were the equivalent of family photographs intended to be given to relatives or friends or to be put in the family album. The average early real photo postcard of a junior high football or baseball player belonged to the player or family. Some real photo postcards were used for advertising or sold to the public at stores and stadiums. Many of these show famous athletes and teams. In the 1920s-50s, many European movie star postcards were made, with the occasional athlete turned actor depicted. The 1920s-30s European movie star postcards, including the pictured Babe Ruth/Harold Lloyd pictured, have distinct brown tinged images and are often sold by eBay sellers from places like Estonia, Romania and Germany. These are plentiful and often with second generation images. c. 1930 German movie postcard featuring baseball star Babe Ruth with actor Harold Lloyd. The brownish tones are common to these postcards.   Most real photo postcards are gelatin-silver, with many to most of the early Pre-WWI examples having silvering in the images and thin stock. A few early vintage examples are cyanotypes, easily identified by the bright blue, matte images. Despite being rarer, cyanotypes usually sell for less than the gelatin silver, as most collectors prefer the black-and-white tones. Note that cyanotypes do not get silvering, even if old. In the United States real photo postcards originated in 1901. Many vintage postcards have photomechanical (ink and printing press) images. These are distinguished under magnification by the dot or other printing pattern. Most ink and printing press postcards can also be identified by the naked eye as the images are not as clear and deep as the photographic image. Many early photomechanical postcards are collotypes and photoengravings, described in a later chapter. If an old postcard has 'Albertype' printed on the back, it's an antique collotype. The American design of postcards was regulated by United States law. Below is a brief description of the vintage designs. Post Card Era (1901-1907) The use of the word "POST CARD" was granted by the government to private printers on December 24 1901. Earlier cards were called 'Private Mailing Cards.' Only the address was allowed to be written on the back of the card during Post Card Era. A blank panel was put on the front for messages. c. 1904 real photo postcards with blank panels on front. Divided Back Era (1907- ) Postcards with a divided back began March 1 1907. The address was to be written on the right side and the left side was for writing messages. This is the same style used today. The early images were 'full bleed,' meaning that they went all the way to the edge of the card. White borders were popularly introduced in around 1915. In more modern time, both full bleed and white borders were made, but the white borders almost always date mid 1910s and after. 1910s real photo postcard with white border   * * * *   Giving an Approximate to a Real Photo Postcard Date by Stampbox Markings Many real photo postcards have marks identifying the brand of paper. If these marks exist, they will be found on the stampbox. The stampbox is the little square in the upper right hand corner. If a real photo postcard has the stampbox markings, the below chart can help determine the general period in which the postcard was made. (Chart courtesy of the2Buds.com). Mailed postcards will often have a dated stamp. Stampbox / Markings / Dates AGFA ANCO ' 1930s - 1940s ANSCO (2 stars at top and bottom) ' 1940s - 1960 ARGO ' 1905 - 1920 ARTURA ' 1910 - 1924 AZO (Squares in each corner) ' 1925 - 1940s AZO (4 triangles pointing upward) ' 1904 - 1918 AZO (2 triangles up, 2 triangles down) ' 1918-1930 AZO (diamonds in corners) ' 1907 - 1909 AZO (nothing in corners) ' 1922 - 1926 CYKO ' 1904 - 1920s DEFENDER (diamond above & below stampbox) 1910 - 1920 DEFENDER (diamond inside stampbox) ' 1920 - 1940 Devolite Peerless ' 1950 and later DOPS ' 1925 - 1942 EKC ' 1940 - 1950 EKKP ' 1904 - 1950 EKO ' 1942 - 1970 KODAK ' 1950 - present KRUXO (nothing in corners) ' 1907 - 1920s KRUXO (Xs in corners) ' 1910 - 1920s NOKO ' 1907 - 1920s PMO ' 1907 - 1915 SAILBOAT ' 1905 - 1908 SOLIO (diamonds in corners) ' 1903 - 1920s VELOX (diamonds in corners) ' 1907 - 1914 VELOX (squares in corners) ' 1901 - 1914 VELOX (4 triangles pointing up) ' 1909 - 1914 VITAVA ' 1925 - 1934 Divided back postcard with stamp box in upper right cycleback.com................photos main (c) david rudd cycleback, cyclback.com all rights reserved

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