BACKGROUND:
Before you go
out to find this cache, take a minute and read a little bit about
the history of the postcard.
A SHORT HISTORY
OF THE POSTCARD IN THE UNITED STATES
By John McClintock
from the International Federation of Postcard
Dealers
PIONEER
ERA (1893-1898): Although there were earlier scattered issues, most
pioneer cards in today's collections begin with the cards placed on
sale at the Colombian Exposition in Chicago, Illinois on May 1,
1893. These were illustrations on government printed postal cards
and on privately printed souvenir cards. The government postal card
had the imprinted 1 cent stamp while the souvenir cards required a
2-cent adhesive postage stamp to be applied to it. Writing was not
permitted on the address side of the card.
PRIVATE
MAILING CARD ERA (1898-1901): On May 19, 1898, private printers
were granted permission, by an act of congress, to print and sell
cards that bore the inscription "Private Mailing Card". Today we
call these cards "PMC's". Postage required was now a 1 cent
adhesive stamp. A dozen or more American printers began to take
postcards seriously. Writing was still not permitted on the address
side, however many publishers often left a wider border on the side
or bottom of the view side so a short message could be
added.
POSTCARD
ERA (1901-1907): The use of the word 'POST CARD' was granted by the
government to private printers on December 4, 1901. In this era,
private citizens began to take black and white photographs and have
them printed on paper with post card backs. Writing was still not
permitted on the address side.
UNDIVIDED
BACK ERA (1893-1907): The above three eras can also be grouped into
the general heading of 'undivided back'.
DIVIDED
BACK ERA (1907-1914): Post cards with a divided back, that is, with
a printed vertical line down the middle, were permitted starting
March 1, 1907. The address to be written on the right side and
written messages to be on the left. Many millions of cards were
published in this period. Up to this point most cards were printed
in Germany who was far ahead of this country in the lithographic
processes. With the advent of World War I, the supply of post cards
had to come from England to the United States.
WHITE
BORDER ERA (1915-1930): Most of our post cards were printed in the
USA during this period. To save ink, a border was left around the
view thus we classify them as "White Border Cards". High cost of
labor, inexperience and public taste caused production of poor
quality cards. High competition in a narrowing market caused many
publisher to go out of business.
LINEN
ERA (1930-1944): New printing processes allowed printing on post
cards with a high rag content that caused a "linen like" finish.
These cheap cards allowed the use of gaudy dyes for coloring. The
firm of Curt Teich flourished with their line of linen postcards.
Many important events in history were recorded on these
cards.
PHOTOCHROME
ERA (1945 to present): The "chrome" post cards started to dominate
the scene soon after they were launched by the Union Oil Company in
their western service stations in 1939. Mike Roberts pioneered with
his "WESCO" cards soon after World War II. Three dimensional post
cards also appeared in this era.
THE CACHE:
This cache is
a rectangular Lock 'n Lock camouflaged with brown tape. It contains
postcards about Memphis and Tennessee.
The lid to this container is secured and must remain in place.
Take care! Remove ONLY the bottom portion of the container.
Thanks!
The cache is starting out with over 70 postcards. In order to log
a find for this cache, I ask that you take a postcard and send it
to someone you haven't been in touch with for awhile. Feel free to
post in your log who you are sending the post card to (not
required). If you want to you can contribute your own postcards (or
stamps for the postcards) to the container but refrain from adding
any other kind of trade items. You do not have to leave something
to take a postcard. Enjoy!
