How to Identify and Date Real Photo Vintage Postcards
Help for identifying the age and paper manufacturer of Real Photo Old Postcards
Most Real Photo Postcards, abbreviated RPPC, have information on their backs to help in identifying the manufacturer of the photographic paper that was used by the postcard publisher. If you can identify the paper manufacturer, you can approximate the age of the old postcard. If the postcard has a stamp box, click on one of stamp box links below. If there is no stamp box, or a generic stamp box, go to Postcards Backs.
Stamp Boxes for Real Photo Vintage Postcards
Select an alphabetical link to identify the paper manufacturer
A-B C D-E F-J K-L M-O P-Q R-T U-Z
All entries on one page (may be slow to load)
How to tell the difference between a Real Photo Postcard and a printed Postcard
There is some confusion on what Real Photo Postcards (RPPC) are, and how to differentiate from a printed postcard. Real Photo Postcards are photographs that are reproduced by actually developing them onto photographic paper the size and weight of Postcards, with a Postcard back. There are many Postcards that reproduce photos by various printing methods that are NOT "real photos"...the same methods used when reproducing photos in magazines and newspapers. The best way to tell the difference is to look at the Postcard with a magnifying glass. If the photo is printed, you will see that it is made up of a lot of little dots, the same as a photo printed in a newspaper. A Real Photo Postcard is solid, no dots.
Real Photo Price Guide by Stefano Neis of SCVIEW
Quick Reference Real Photo Old Postcard Dating Guide
This chart is not as complete as the detailed information available in the Stamp Box links above.
| PAPER | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| AGFA/ANSCO | 1930-1940s | |
| ANSCO | 1940-1960 | 2 Stars at top & bottom |
| ARGO | 1905-1920 | |
| ARTURA | 1910-1924 | |
| AZO | 1926-1940s | Squares in corners |
| AZO | 1904-1918 | 4 triangles pointed up |
| AZO | 1918-1930 | Triangles 2 up, 2 down |
| AZO | 1907-1909 | DIAMONDS in corners |
| AZO | 1922-1926 | Empty Corners |
| CYKO | 1904-1920s | |
| DEFENDER | 1910-1920 | Diamond above & below |
| DEFENDER | 1920-1945 | Diamond inside |
| Devolite Peerless | 1950- | |
| DOPS | 1925-1942 | |
| Du Pont | 1945-1950s | |
| EKC | 1939-1950 | |
| EKKP | 1904-1950 | |
| EKO | 1942-1970 | |
| KODAK | 1950-NOW | |
| KRUXO | 1907-1920s | |
| KRUXO | 1910-1920s | Xs in corners |
| MULTISCOPE & FILM CO-WISC. | Pre-1909 | BADGER |
| NOKO | 1907-1920s | |
| PMO | 1907-1915 | |
| SAILBOAT | 1905-1908 | Sailboat in circle |
| SOLIO | 1903-1920s | Diamonds in corners |
| VELOX | 1907-1914 | Diamonds in corners |
| VELOX | 1901-1914 | Squares in corners |
| VELOX | 1909-1914 | Triangles: 4 pointed Up |
| VITAVA | 1925-1934 |
| Thanks to the following who have helped by identifying or dating old Postcards stamp boxes/backs we already have, or by adding new ones: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Real Photo Postcard Stamp Boxes |
 Real Photo Postcard Stamp Backs |