When was postage 1 cent for a postcard

In the beginning, Teich apparently made no attempt to define when a card was printed. Research has revealed some consistencies however, such as these:. Card number Year printed 28, 55, 80, , , December, The company used code numbers and letters to indicate the date the card was published. The codes appear either on the scenic side or in the postage box. The number and letter before the dash in the code stand for the date.

The number indicates the last figure in the date and the letter indicates the decade. The letters and figures after the dash pertain to the printing process used and the number of issues that year. Code number 3A-H is therefore translated to be printed in the year The "H" refers to the printing method called Art Colortone. For more information, visit the Curt Teich Postcard Archives web site. The Detroit Publishing Company b egan numbering its cards with Number 1.

Some of these same cards were later reproduced in the series. Detroit postcards are easy to manage by the number, regardless of subject. Inherent content of the picture may be helpful in dating assuming that the postcard used a recent view.

What style of clothes are the people wearing? Look at the modes of transportation. Horse-drawn vehicles? What model of vehicles? What clues can be drawn from the style of interior decorations , appliances, and furnishings? Have the buildings been modified since the time of this view? Look for other time-related details. For example, how many stars are in the U. Do the buildings have window air conditioners? Is a wall calendar in the picture? This dating guide compiled by the Curt Teich Archives , a wonderful wealth of images and information, provides detailed information about the postcard print numbers and dates.

Report of the Postmaster-General. Greetings from the Smithsonian A Postcard History See how Washington, DC and Smithsonian visitors have shared their trips with others by taking a historic look at the Smithsonian through the picture postcard. Dating Postcards. Menu: Greetings from the Smithsonian.

I Introduction and History. II Dating Postcards. III History of Postcards. IV Postcard Galleries. II Arts and Industries Building. There was a third category of card known as a "private mailing card", which was a commercial card prepared for a special occasion, or for a special reason. They actually had the legend "Private Mailing Card" imprinted upon them. The domestic postage rate for these cards was the same as the other card rates, except for the period April 15, , to about June, , when the rate was increased to 2-cents, while the postal card and postcard rates remained at 1-cent.

Henry W. Anthony S. Wawrukiewicz and Henry W. Domestic Postcard Rates.