On March 1, 1907, the U.S. Post Office allowed messages on the back, divided by a vertical line.
This change launched the “Golden Age” of postcards, with peak production and quality before World War I impacted supplies.
Key Characteristics:
- Back: Divided by a printed vertical line; left side for message, right for address.
- Front: Images often extend closer to edges; smaller borders.
- Printing: Continued German dominance early on, shifting to U.S. and British printers later.
- Quality: Sharp lithographs and abundant RPPCs.
Dating Tips:
- Divided back confirms post-March 1907.
- “Printed in Germany” with divided back usually 1907–1914.
- Transition to white borders begins around 1915 due to ink shortages.
- Postmarks from 1907–1915 help confirm.
- Newman Post Card Company 1904 – 1918 (roughly).
- Brown News Company (B.N. Co.) 1908 – 1920 (roughly).
- M. Kashower Co. Los Angeles 1913 – 1934 (roughly)
