Dating Postcards

Dating Postcard Eras

- Note: Some of the dates are circa, meaning they may vary a few years one way or the other. We give more specific information on these dates and eras in the Postcard Publishing Eras in this section. The dates listed below are useful and apply to most postcards. We did not list the Pioneer Era, pre-1898, because we do not have any Yellowstone postals as examples. However, this is another era of postals that predate PMCs.

PMC – Private Mailing Cards

1898-1901

 

U/B - Undivided Back Era

1902-1906

 

D/B - Divided Back Era

1907-1915

 

The Golden Age of Postcards

1898-1915

 

The Golden Age of Real Photo Postcards

1903-1945

 

White Border Era

1920-1929

 

Linen Era

1930-1945

 

Modern Chrome Era (Pre-Zip Code)

1939-1963

 

Modern Chrome Era (Post-Zip Code)

1964-1995

 

Digital Postcard Era

Circa 1995-Present