Why so many survive
The postcard craze peaked in the decade before World War I. In 1907 the Post Office began allowing messages on the address side, and almost overnight sending postcards became a national habit. Hundreds of millions passed through the mail each year, and collecting them in albums was one of the most popular pastimes in the country. Those albums are why so many early 1900s postcards turn up today, and why most of them are common.
How to recognize a card from the early 1900s
- Undivided back: the back has room only for the address, and messages were written on the front. These date from before March 1907.
- Divided back with a full-picture front: a line down the middle of the back, and a picture that runs to the edges. Typical of about 1907 to 1915.
- "Printed in Germany" or "Made in Saxony": many of the finest lithographed and embossed cards were printed there before the war cut off the supply. See German-printed postcards.
- White border: from about 1915 into the 1920s, a white frame appears around the picture.
- Real photo backs with a paper maker's name in the stamp box, such as AZO, VELOX or CYKO. See stamp box dating.
- One-cent postmarks and stamps: the domestic postcard rate was one cent for most of this period.
The dating guide goes through each clue in detail.
Which early 1900s postcards are valuable
Real photo postcards. Real photo views of small towns, main streets, depots, businesses, people at work and local events from these years are the most wanted American postcards of all. See real photo postcard values.
Holiday cards. Embossed Halloween cards from about 1905 to 1915 lead the field, followed by Fourth of July, Thanksgiving and unusual Christmas designs. See vintage Halloween postcards.
Topicals. Early automobiles, aviation meets, expositions, disasters and railroad scenes from these years have strong followings.
Novelty cards. Hold-to-light, mechanical, leather, silk and other unusual constructions were most popular in this period. See leather postcards.
Which early 1900s postcards are common
- Printed views of big cities, state capitols, famous hotels and landmarks.
- Generic greetings, birthday and flower cards.
- Christmas cards with ordinary designs.
- Cards with heavy damage, whatever the subject.
These still have value in quantity, and they are part of what a whole-collection buyer pays for, but individually most sell for very little.
Are 100-year-old postcards worth anything?
It is a fair question, because a century sounds like it should guarantee value. It does not. What a hundred years does guarantee is that the card comes from the era when the best postcards were made, so an old album deserves a careful look. Look first for real photographs, small towns and holidays. If those are there, the album may be worth much more than the sum of its common cards.
Early 1900s postcards and condition
Cards this old are expected to show some age: light corner wear, some toning, a postmark and a message. Collectors accept that. What they discount heavily is damage to the picture itself: creases across the image, missing pieces, water stains, mold, and residue from being glued or taped into scrapbooks. See the condition guide.
Messages from the era
Many early 1900s cards carry messages that are history in their own right: news of a birth, a move west, a fire in town, a trip to an exposition. A message rarely changes a card's price, but an informative one can make it more interesting to a collector, and it is part of why these cards are worth preserving.
What a typical early 1900s family collection holds
Most family collections from these years follow a pattern. There is usually a large group of printed views: places the family visited, cards sent by relatives from other towns, and souvenir views of nearby cities. There is a run of greetings, mostly Christmas, New Year, Easter and birthdays, with a few Thanksgiving, Valentine and Halloween cards mixed in. And there is often a smaller group of real photographs: the family's own town, their church or school, relatives posed outside a house, perhaps a local event.
The printed views and common greetings make up the bulk. The real photographs and the less common holidays usually make up most of the value. Spotting that smaller group is the key to understanding what an early 1900s collection is worth, and it is exactly what I look for first in the photos sellers send.
Preserving early 1900s cards
Cards of this age are sturdy but not indestructible. Keep them dry and out of the sun, leave them in their albums, and do not clean or repair them. A card that has survived over a century in a closet will survive many more if left alone.
If you are not sure whether a collection dates from these years, a photo of a few backs settles it quickly.
Questions people ask
Are postcards from 1910 worth anything?
Some are. Real photos, good holiday cards and interesting topicals from around 1910 can be worth tens of dollars or more; common printed views usually much less.
Are early 1900s postcards worth more unused?
Not necessarily. For real photo views, a clear postmark from a small town can add interest. For printed holiday cards, clean unused examples are sometimes preferred. See used vs unused postcards.
How do I know if my postcards are from the early 1900s?
Check the back: undivided backs and "Printed in Germany" lines point to the earliest years, and postmarks give you the latest possible date.
Should I keep an early 1900s album together?
Yes. Albums from these years often follow a family or a region, and that context matters to collectors.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Postal Service: rates for stamped cards and postcards since 1873
- U.S. House of Representatives, History, Art & Archives: postcards and the 1909 Payne-Aldrich Tariff
Ready to sell? Compare where to sell old postcards, or see how to sell old postcards step by step.