Why the white border appeared
Until about 1915, many American postcards were printed in Germany with rich, full-bleed color running to the card's edges. When World War I cut off that supply, American printers expanded production. Many adopted a simpler style with a white margin around the picture, which saved ink and suited their printing methods. The white border became so standard that collectors use it to name the whole era.
How to recognize a white border card
- A white frame, usually a few millimeters wide, around the picture on the front.
- A divided back, often with the publisher's name and a series number.
- Printing that is often less rich and more muted than prewar German cards.
- Subjects that include the first wave of automobiles on main streets, early roadside businesses and post-war civic buildings.
The white border is not an absolute rule: some earlier and later cards have borders too, and some white border era cards do not. Combine it with other clues; see the dating guide.
What collectors look for in the white border era
Real photo postcards. Real photo postcards remained popular throughout these years, especially in rural areas, and many of the most sought-after small-town views date from this period. Cars, trucks and paved streets begin to appear, and photographers documented the changing American town. See real photo postcard values.
Early automobiles and roadside businesses. Garages, gas stations, early auto camps and dealerships.
Small towns and main streets. As with every era, small and specific beats famous and general.
Events and disasters. Floods, fires and storms of the 1910s and 1920s.
Advertising. Business-issued cards for local shops and products.
Common white border cards
Printed views of big cities, landmarks, parks, resorts, churches and civic buildings were produced in large numbers and are common. Most sell for under a dollar to a few dollars.
The 1920s on postcards
White border era cards record a country changing quickly: the spread of the automobile, new highways, movie theaters, radio towers, modern schools and the first airports. Some collectors focus on these signs of modernization, and cards that capture them clearly have extra appeal.
White border cards in a collection
Many family collections include a large layer of white border cards from the 1920s, mixed with earlier and later cards. I count them as a group and look closely at real photos, small towns and subjects with automobiles and roadside businesses.
Publishers of the white border era
American publishers grew rapidly in these years to fill the gap left by German printers. Large firms in Chicago, Boston, New York and elsewhere produced view cards for towns across the country, often from photographs supplied by local merchants. Many backs name the publisher and carry a series number, which helps date a card more closely. Curt Teich of Chicago, later famous for linens, was one of the companies producing view cards in this period. See Curt Teich postcards.
Auto camps and early tourism
As automobile travel spread in the 1920s, towns opened free or low-cost auto camps where travelers could pitch tents, and the first tourist cabins appeared. White border cards and real photos of auto camps, early filling stations and roadside stands document the very beginning of the roadside culture that the linen era later celebrated. They are popular with roadside and automobile collectors.
Questions people ask
What years are white border postcards?
Generally about 1915 to 1930.
Are white border postcards valuable?
Most printed views are common; real photos and specific small-town, roadside and event cards are worth more.
Why do white border cards look less colorful?
American printing of the period was simpler and cheaper than the prewar German lithography that preceded it.
Are 1920s postcards worth anything?
Common views are worth a little; real photos and interesting subjects are worth more.
Do you buy collections from the 1920s?
Yes, as complete collections, including all eras mixed together.
Postcards in a changing America
The white border years cover World War I, the influenza pandemic of 1918, women's suffrage in 1920, and the booming 1920s. Postcards from these years show main streets filling with automobiles, new brick schools and banks, movie palaces, and the first gas stations replacing livery stables. For collectors who love watching towns change, white border cards and the real photos made alongside them are a rich record.
Recognizing real photos from this era
Real photo postcards of the late 1910s and 1920s often carry AZO stamp boxes with two triangles pointing up and two pointing down, or squares in the corners, along with other paper brands. Captions were still commonly scratched into the negative. Cars and clothing in the picture are useful dating clues. See stamp box dating.
Photographing white border cards for a quote
One photo of a stack showing the white borders, plus close-ups of any real photos, small-town streets with cars, or roadside businesses, gives me what I need.
Are auto camp postcards collectible? Yes. Cards of early auto camps, tourist cabins and filling stations from the 1920s are popular with roadside and automobile collectors.
How can I tell a 1920s real photo from an earlier one? Look at the cars, clothing and stamp box mark, and check the postmark; these together usually settle the decade.
Did German printing return after World War I? Some imports resumed, but American publishers dominated the market from then on, and the golden age of German-printed cards did not return.
Are 1920s holiday postcards collectible? Some are, though generally less so than prewar embossed cards.
Sources and further reading
- Newberry Library: Curt Teich Postcard Archives collection records
- U.S. Postal Service: rates for stamped cards and postcards since 1873
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