Reference
Postcard publishers & printers
A card can’t predate its publisher, so the name on the back is a dating tool. These pages identify the major houses by their marks and imprints, give each one’s span and country, and show a real card from our collection. US first; foreign publishers are labeled with their own conventions.
Curt Teich & Co.
Chicago, Illinois · 1898-1978
Detroit Publishing Company
Detroit, Michigan · 1898-1932
Fred Harvey
Kansas City / the Santa Fe Railway Southwest · founded 1876; postcards c. 1900–1940s
Raphael Tuck & Sons
London (with a New York office from 1900) · founded 1866; postcards from 1894, into the 1960s
Colourpicture Publishers
Boston, Massachusetts · 1938–1969
Tichnor Brothers
Boston, Massachusetts · 1908–1987
Dexter Press
West Nyack, New York · 1920–1980s
H. S. Crocker Co. (Mirro-Krome)
San Francisco, California · 1856–present
MWM (Mid-Western Map Co.)
Aurora, Missouri · to 1980, then MWM Dexter
Parlin Color Co. (Parco)
Toms River, New Jersey · mid-20th century; span not documented
Also in the collection, pending verification before they go up: Mike Roberts, Edward H. Mitchell, Pacific Novelty Company, Newman Post Card Co., American Post Card Co., Coronet Greeting Card Co., Great American Color Co., Jack Freeman, Inc., Service Print, Inc., Color Masters, Inc. / Hannau Color Productions. We publish a publisher only once its span and marks are confirmed.