Messages
A message on the back is normal for a postcard. That is what postcards were for. Collectors of town views, real photos and topicals generally do not mind writing, and some enjoy it: a message can name the town, describe an event, or simply give a glimpse of life a century ago.
Writing does matter when it spills onto the picture side. On undivided-back cards from before 1907, messages were written on the front by rule, often in the margin or across the sky. That is expected for those cards, but heavy writing across the main image of a later card lowers its appeal.
Never try to erase a message. Erasing damages the card surface and lowers value far more than the writing ever did.
Stamps
The stamps on early American postcards were almost always the common one-cent issue of the day, printed in enormous quantities. On their own they are worth very little to stamp collectors. A two-cent stamp on a card from late 1917 to mid-1919 simply reflects the wartime postal rate.
Do not soak or cut the stamp off. Removing a stamp destroys the postcard's value and gains nothing. If a card has an unusual stamp, such as a foreign issue, an early special issue or something you do not recognize, mention it when you describe the collection and leave it in place.
Postmarks
Postmarks are more interesting than stamps. A clear, readable postmark tells collectors where and when the card was mailed, which helps identify an unlabeled view and dates the card. Some collectors specialize in postmarks themselves:
- Small and discontinued post offices. Many rural post offices closed in the twentieth century. A clear cancel from one is collected in its own right.
- Rural Free Delivery and early markings. Some cards carry early delivery markings that interest specialists.
- Exposition and event postmarks. Cards mailed from a world's fair or special event sometimes carry special cancels.
For a real photo view of a small town, a postmark from that same town is a nice confirmation of where the picture was taken.
Unused cards
Unused cards were bought and never mailed, often as souvenirs. They tend to be in cleaner condition, and for printed holiday cards and some topicals, collectors may prefer clean unused examples. For real photo town views, used and unused are both fine. An unused card is dated by its printing and style rather than a postmark.
So which is worth more?
For most cards, it depends far more on subject and condition than on whether the card was mailed:
| Situation | Effect on value |
|---|---|
| Message on the back of a post-1907 card | Usually none |
| Clear postmark from a small or closed post office | Can add interest |
| Common one-cent stamp | Usually none |
| Writing across the picture on a later card | Lowers appeal |
| Stamp removed or torn | Lowers value |
| Clean unused holiday card | Sometimes preferred |
A short history of the postcard rate
For most of the early twentieth century, mailing a postcard within the United States cost one cent, which is why one-cent stamps appear on so many old cards. During World War I the rate rose to two cents, from late 1917 until mid-1919, then returned to a penny. It stayed at one cent until 1952, when it doubled to two cents, and it has risen many times since. A stamp and postmark together are a handy way to confirm roughly when a card was mailed.
Why collectors like postmarks
Postmarks connect a card to a real moment: a particular town on a particular day. For a collector of a county or a state, a card mailed from a tiny post office that closed decades ago is a small piece of local history, and some specialize in exactly those cancels. Even for a general collector, a clear postmark can settle where an uncaptioned view was taken.
Messages worth reading
Before a collection changes hands, many families enjoy reading through the messages. Some are routine, others remarkable: a description of a flood, news of a new baby, a soldier writing home, a traveler at a world's fair. If you find messages that matter to your family, photograph or transcribe them. The card can go to a collector while the words stay with you.
Cards mailed in envelopes
Some postcards were mailed inside envelopes, especially delicate holiday cards and novelty cards. They carry no stamp or postmark of their own and often survive in excellent condition. If envelopes are still with the cards, keep them together: a postmarked envelope can help date the card inside.
Writing on real photo postcards
Real photo postcards often carry writing that is part of the card itself: a caption scratched into the negative, or a photographer's name and number in the corner of the image. That writing is original and adds to the card, because it identifies the place and maker. Handwritten notes added later in pen on the picture side are a different matter and do lower appeal, but they are still far better left alone than erased.
Questions people ask
Are old postcards with stamps worth anything?
The postcard may be. The stamp almost never adds much by itself.
How much is a one-cent postcard worth?
Postcards that cost a penny to mail are simply from the early period; the one-cent rate tells you little about value. The picture decides.
Are old blank postcards worth anything?
Yes, they are collectible on the same terms as used ones: subject and condition first.
Should I remove postcards from envelopes or albums to look at the backs?
Look carefully if they come out easily. If they are glued or tight in old photo corners, leave them and photograph what you can.
Sources and further reading
- U.S. Postal Service: rates for stamped cards and postcards since 1873
- U.S. Postal Service: history of Rural Free Delivery (PDF)
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