Why American postcards were printed in Germany
At the turn of the twentieth century, German printers, particularly in Saxony and Bavaria, led the world in color lithography. They could produce richly colored, finely detailed and deeply embossed cards at low cost and in huge volume. American publishers, including some of the largest view-card companies, sent photographs of American towns and scenes to Germany to be printed, and imported the finished cards by the million.
Greeting and holiday cards were especially likely to be German printed. Many of the most admired holiday postcards of the era, with layers of embossing and gilded details, came from German presses.
Why it ended
Two things ended the German dominance. The Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909 raised duties on imported postcards, encouraging American printers to expand. Then World War I cut off trade with Germany entirely. American printing improved over the following years, but collectors generally agree that the embossing and color of the best prewar German cards were never matched.
What "Printed in Germany" tells you
- Age. A card with this line was almost certainly printed before about 1915, and many date from about 1905 to 1913.
- Quality. German printing often means finer color, sharper detail and, on greetings, deeper embossing.
- Type. Many German-printed cards are holiday greetings, artist-signed designs or colored town views.
It does not, by itself, make a card valuable. A German-printed view of a famous landmark is still a common card.
German-printed cards collectors want most
Halloween. Embossed German-printed Halloween cards from about 1905 to 1915 are among the most valuable printed postcards of any kind. See vintage Halloween postcards.
Other holidays. Fine Thanksgiving, Fourth of July, Easter and unusual Christmas designs, especially from known publishers and series. See antique Christmas postcards.
Artist-signed cards. Designs signed by illustrators such as Ellen Clapsaddle and Frances Brundage, many printed in Germany for American publishers.
Small-town views. Colored views of small American towns, printed in Germany from photographs sent by local publishers or druggists, can be scarce and attractive.
Hold-to-light and novelty cards. Several German printers specialized in cards with cut-out or translucent sections that glow when held up to a lamp.
Old German postcards of German places
Some collections include postcards of Germany itself, sent home by travelers or immigrants. These are collected mainly by European collectors, and values follow similar rules: scarce places, real photographs and good condition matter most. I take them as part of an American collection.
How German printing worked
The finest German cards were made by chromolithography: each color was printed from a separate stone or plate, sometimes ten or more, layered precisely to build up rich, smooth color without the dot patterns of later printing. Many were then embossed with steel dies, raising figures and borders from the card, and some received gold or silver highlights. The process was skilled and labor-intensive, but German firms had the equipment, craftsmen and scale to do it cheaply.
American view cards printed in Germany often began as a photograph supplied by a local publisher, frequently the town druggist or stationer. The German printer colorized the image, sometimes adding sky, foliage or details, and returned thousands of finished cards. That is why so many small American towns have attractive colored views from these years, and why some of those small-town views are scarce today.
Spotting prewar German quality
Under a magnifier, look at the color. Prewar lithographs often show smooth, rich areas of color rather than a coarse dot pattern. Feel for embossing on greetings. Check the back for the printing line and publisher. A card that combines these features was almost certainly made in the golden age of the postcard, and it deserves a careful look when you describe a collection.
German printing on real photo collections
German printing applies to printed cards, not to real photo postcards, which were developed on photo paper by local photographers. A family album from the golden age often holds both: German-printed greetings and views alongside American real photographs. The two together are a strong sign of an album assembled between about 1905 and 1915, the period collectors find most interesting.
Questions people ask
Are old German postcards worth anything?
Some are. German-printed holiday cards, especially Halloween, and fine artist-signed designs can be worth tens of dollars or more. Common German-printed views are worth little individually.
What does "Made in Saxony" mean on a postcard?
That it was printed in the German state of Saxony, a center of fine color printing before World War I.
Why do some cards say "Printed in Bavaria"?
Bavaria was another major German printing region. The meaning is the same: prewar German printing.
Are German-printed cards always embossed?
No. Many are flat lithographs. Embossing is more common on greetings than on views.
Recognizing the publishers
Many German-printed cards name an American or British publisher on the back, with the printing location in smaller type. Some names you may see on early cards in American collections include Raphael Tuck & Sons, the International Art Publishing Company, John Winsch, and hundreds of local publishers and druggists who ordered views of their own towns. Specialist collectors follow particular publishers and series closely, and a recognizable publisher's mark on a fine holiday card is worth pointing out when you describe a collection.
Were American real photo postcards printed in Germany? No. Real photo postcards were developed on photo paper by photographers, usually locally. German printing applies to printed lithographed cards, including many colored views of American towns made from photographs.
Sources and further reading
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