STEVE LEVINE
United States
Postal Stationery

UNITED STATES
MINT FACE, UNUSED & USED
POSTAL CARDS

     PRICELIST & ORDER BLANK  THIS LIST is both a pricelist of my stock and an order blank.  Scott #’s are taken from the 2008 Scott U.S. Specialized Catalog.  UPSS Numbers (when used) are taken from the 2005 UPSS Postal Card Catalog.  Where necessary, I invent my own numbers.

     HOW TO ORDER:
1.  DINOSAUR STYLE  If ordering Dinosaur Style (thru the mail), you can print out this sheet, then circle the price of what you want and mail it in with either a check or a Credit Card #.   
2.  ONLINE  Sorry, this is not a full-function interactive website with a shopping cart and card processing ability.  It's Dinosaur-style; it only has listings.  Still, we can improvise!
     You can send me an e-mail and type out what you want and the price.  Make sure you let me know whether you want your card Mint face, Unused, or Used.
     OR, you can cut & paste the item with its description and price.  If you need to HIGHLIGHT anything, please do it in green (00CC00 for the techs out there).
     I accept VISA, Master Card, and American Express.  I also accept PAY PAL, at my e-mail address of "slwarking@erols.com".
3.  PHONE  IF your order is relatively simple, or if you have a few questions, you can phone me at 718-939-5788.  For me, there's no such thing as "business hours".  I'm usually in, and if I'm not, you get the answering machine.  Leave your #; I'll get back to you.
     SELLOUTS AND REFUNDS  This list is backed by a pretty hefty inventory, and most of the items on it are well-stocked.  However, a few difficult items are "1-of-a-kind", AND I have over 5,000 items of Postal Stationery in stock.  Keeping my lists current is a chore-and-a-half; occasionally I won't remove a sold out item quickly enough.  It doesn't happen often, but it will happen, and I apologize in advance for the inconvenience.

TERMS OF PURCHASE:  Items from this list may be combined with items from my other lists for a MINIMUM ORDER of $15.  ALL ORDERS will be shipped via Insured or Registered mail, for your protection.  Please add $2 for
postage and insurance to all orders.  There's never a "handling" fee; just actual postage expenses.  This is for U.S. orders only.  Overseas shipments, please e-mail me in advance for shipping information.
     New York State Residents, please add the appropriate Sales tax.  VISA, Master Card and American Express are accepted: please include all information which appears in raised print, PLUS the 3 digit security code which appears on the back.
                SATISFACTION IS GUARANTEED ON ALL ORDERS

     UNUSED & USED POSTAL CARD INFORMATION:  AT the end of this list is some information about Mint Face, Unused, and Used Postal Cards which you'll find useful.  I have a few words to say on the subjects of advertising, why it's impossible to find recent cards in used or unused condition, and that most important matter, the overall quality of what I sell.  CLICK HERE

HOW TO USE THIS LIST:

    DEFINITIONS:  Postal Cards have been used for both personal correspondence and for business purposes.  it's the latter that makes cards interesting.  Having a card in your collection with advertising from the Rat Biscuit Company or from the Committee to re-elect President Roosevelt (Teddy!) puts some sizzle in your collection.  Cards are offered in the following conditions:
     MINT - This is the way cards come from the Post Office, fresh & clean.  If that's what you want, then you should be looking at my MINT POSTAL CARDS list.
     UNUSED - A message, advertisement, or address has been printed (sometimes rubber-stamped) on either the front, the back, or BOTH sides of the Postal Card.
     MINT FACE - If the message is printed on the BACK ONLY and the front of the card is clean, then it's called "UNUSED, MINT FACE" or just "MINT FACE" for short.  Sometimes it's referred to as "CLEAN FACE".  This is a premium condition; this type of card usually appeals to collectors who want the MINT look...without the MINT pricetag.  MINT FACE cards usually (with some exceptions) sell for about 40% of the price of MINT.
     USED - Postally used.  May or may not have printing; used is used, whether printed or not.  Definitely WILL have a cancel...hand, machine, killer, pen, whatever was in use at the time.  Precancelled cards will also have a cancel.

      SCOTT vs UPSS:  Serious collectors are likely to use either the Scott Specialized Catalog of United States Stamps & Covers or the United States Postal Card Catalog, published by the United Postal Stationery Society.  Some collectors use both.  There are 2 matters of importance:
     1.  PRICE - Scott is published yearly, UPSS is published once every 5 years.  The information in the UPSS Catalog is advanced far beyond Scott, but the prices sometimes fall behind the market.  Scott is often a better guide.
     2.  TERMINOLOGY - Cards in P.O. fresh condition; Scott calls them "unused" because they have NO GUM.  UPSS calls them MINT.  Cards with printing: Scott calls them "preprinted".  UPSS calls them UNUSED.  I use the UPSS terms.

      QUICK SCROLL:xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
      COMMEMORATIVE & DEFINITIVE ISSUESxxxxxxxxxx
       AIRMAIL ISSUESxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
        MESSAGE-REPLY CARDSxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

         COMMEMORATIVE AND DEFINITIVE ISSUES       

    Scott UPSS            Description                  Mint  Unused  Used
      #    #                                           Face             
    UX1   S1   1c Liberty Head, Large Watermark.....   ----   ----  22.50
    UX3   S2   1c Liberty Head, Small Watermark.....  30.00   ----   2.25
    UX5   S4   1c Liberty, "Write The Address"......   ----   ----    .45
    UX7   S6   1c Liberty, "Nothing but the Address"  27.50   6.25    .40
    UX8   S7   1c Thomas Jefferson, Brown on Buff...  21.50   9.00   1.15
    UX9   S8   1c Jefferson, Black on Buff..........   8.50   1.60    .50
    UX9a  S8b  1c Jefferson, Black on Dark Buff.....   ----   ----   5.00
    =====================================================================
    UX10  S10T1 1c Grant, Large Card, Type 1........   ----   ----   1.85
    UX10  S10T2 1c Grant, Large Card, Type 2........  16.50   ----    ---
    =====================================================================
    UX11  S12  1c Grant, Small Card, Blue on White..   ----   ----   ----
    UX12  S14  1c Jefferson, Black on Buff, Flat Pr.  15.50   2.10    .65
    UX12  S15  1c Jefferson, Black on Buff, Rotary Pr  ----   ----   1.50
    UX14  S17  1c Jefferson, Black on Buff..........  14.50   2.50    .45
    UX15  S19  1c John Adams, Black on Buff.........   ----   ----  15.00
    UX18  S22  1c William McKinley, Side View.......   6.00   1.60    .35
    UX19  S24  1c William McKinley, Square Design...  16.50   ----    .50
    UX20  S26  1c McKinley, Writing Space on Front..  23.50   ----   4.25
    UX21  S28  1c McKinley, Blue, w. Background Lines 39.50   ----   ----
    UX22  S30  1c McKinley, Blue, No Background Lines  7.00   1.65    .35
    UX23  S32  1c Abraham Lincoln, Red on Cream.....   ----   3.00   ----
    UX24  S33  1c McKinley, Red, No Background Lines   3.75   1.15    .35
    =====================================================================
    UX27 S37e  1c Thomas Jefferson, Green on Buff...    .25    .25    .25
    UX27 S37eC 1c Thomas Jefferson, Green on Canary.    .35    ---    .30
    UX27a S37a or aa 1c Jefferson, on "Cream" paper.   1.75   1.25    .65
    UX27  S37b 1c Jefferson, Potter Rotary Press....  20.00  15.00   9.00
    UX27  S37c 1c Jefferson, Flat Bed Electro Press.   ---- 100.00   ----
    UX27  S37d 1c Jefferson, Hoe-Potter Rotary Press   ----  20.00   ----
    =====================================================================
    UX28  S40  1c Abraham Lincoln, Green on Various.    .35    .30    .30
    =====================================================================
    UX29  S41  2c Jefferson, Die 1, Carmine on Buff.  16.50   6.50   2.00
    UX29  S41T 2c Jefferson, Small "THI" Variety....  26.50   ----   3.00
    UX29  S41P 2c Jefferson, Dash in "P" of POSTAL..  25.00   ----   ----
    =====================================================================
    UX30  S42  2c Jefferson, Die 2, carmine on buff.  11.00   4.25   1.60
    =====================================================================
    UX32  S44  1c on 2c (UX29) Jefferson, Die 1.....   ----   ----   ----
          S44-33  Philadelphia Revalue..............   ----   ----   ----
    =====================================================================
    UX33  S45  1c on 2c (UX30) Jefferson, Die 2.....   5.00   ----   1.90
          S45-22  Louisville Revalue................   5.25   3.00   ----
          S45-28  New York (Small CENT) Revalue.....   5.00   ----   ----
    =====================================================================
    UX35  S47  1c on 2c (UX30), Press-Printed.......
          S47-1   Washington Ovpt...................   ----   ----  37.50
    =====================================================================
    UX38  S54a 2c Franklin, Type 1 - Electrotype....   ----   ----    .30
    UX38  S54b 2c Franklin, Type 2 - Steel Plate....    .25    .25    .25
    =====================================================================
    UX39  S56-1 2c on 1c (UX27), Normal Surcharge...    .35    .25    .35
    UX39a S56-3 Same, Surcharge Reading down at Right  ----   ----  10.00
    =====================================================================
    UX40a S58-2 2c on 1c (UX28), Sch. Vert. at Left.   ----   4.25   ----
    UX41  S57  2c on 1c (UX27), Press-Printed.......   2.00   ----   2.00
    =====================================================================
    UX42  S59bN-H2 Offset Sch, Notch in "D", Head 2.   ----   ----   ----
    UX42  S59bN-H3 Offset Sch, Notch in "D", Head 3.   ----   ----   3.00
    UX42  S59bNH-H2 Offset Sch, Notch&Hole in "D", H2  ----   ----   3.00
    UX42  S59bNH-H3 Offset Sch., Notch&Hole in "D", H3 ----   ----   3.00
    =====================================================================
    UX44  S61  2c FIPEX Exhibition..................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX46  S63 - T1 3c Liberty, Type 1 - Electrotype.    .45    .35    .75
    UX46  S63 - T2 3c Liberty, Type 2 - Steel Plate.    .35    .25    .25
    UX46d S65  3c Statue of Liberty, Precancelled....  3.25   ----   ----
    =====================================================================
    UX48  S66a-T2 4c Lincoln, Type 2 - Steel Plate..    .25    .25    .25
    UX48a S66c 4c Abraham Lincoln, "Tagged" Ink.....   ----   ----    .25
    =====================================================================
    UX50  S68  4c Customs Service...................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX51  S69  4c Social Security...................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX52  S70  4c Coast Guard.......................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX53  S71  4c Census Bureau.....................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX55  S73  5c Abraham Lincoln...................    .25   ----    .60
    UX56  S75  5c Women Marines.....................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX57  S76  5c Weather Services..................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX58  S77  6c Paul Revere…......................    .25   ----   1.00
    UX61  S80-1 6c Tourism - U.S.F. Constellation...   ----   ----  10.00
    UX62  S80-2 6c Tourism - Monument Valley........   ----   ----  10.00
    UX63  S80-3 6c Tourism - Gloucester, Mass.......   ----   ----  10.00
          UX61-63 are correctly cancelled, but have no addresses.       
    UX64  S81  6c John Hanson.......................    .25   ----   1.00
    UX65  S82  6c Old-Style Liberty Head Postal Card   ----   ----   1.00
    UX66  S83  8c Samuel Adams......................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX68  S85  7c Charles Thomson...................    .25   ----   ----
    UX69  S86  9c John Witherspoon..................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX70  S87  9c Caesar Rodney.....................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX71  S88  9c Galveston Courthouse..............   ----    .25   ----
    UX75  S92 10c John Hancock......................   ----   ----   1.00
    UX93  S110 13c Robert Morris....................   ----   ----    .60
    UX100 S117 13c Olympics - Yachting..............   ----   ----   1.25
    UX105 S122 (14c) Charles Carroll................   ----   ----    .75
    UX108 S125 14c George Wythe.....................    .25   ----    .75
    UX120 S137a 15c Bison - Fluorescent Paper.......   ----   ----    .60
    UX120 S137b 15c Bison - Dull paper..............   ----   ----   1.25
    UX153 S166  19c U.S.A. - Stylized Waving Flag...   ----   ----    .75
    UX156 S170  19c Ratification of the Bill of Rights ----   ----    .75
    UX198 S212  20c America Series - Red Barn.......   ----   ----    .60
    UX199 S211 (20c) Old Glory......................   ----   ----   3.00
    UX220 S233  20c American Clipper Ships..........   ----   ----    .85

                           AIRMAIL ISSUES                       

    UXC2  SA2   5c Eagle............................   ----   ----    .85

                      MESSAGE-REPLY CARDS                   

    Scott UPSS            Description                   UNUSED UNUSED  USED
      #    #                                          UNFOLDED FOLDED     
    UY4m  M6   1c Sherman, Message Card Only.........    ----   3.75   ----
    UY4r  R6   1c Sheridan, Reply Card Only..........    ----   3.75   ----
    =======================================================================
    UY5   MR8  1c Washington, Blue on Blue, attached.   50.00  37.50   ----
    UY5m  M8   1c George Washington, Message Card only   ----   ----   3.75
    UY5r  R8   1c Martha Washington, Reply Card only.    ----   9.00   ----
    =======================================================================
    UY6   MR12 1c Washington, 2 Frame Lines, attached.  67.50  55.00  23.50
    UY6m  M12  1c George Washington, Message Card only   ----   ----   6.00
    UY6r  R12  1c Martha Washington, Reply Card only..   ----   ----   6.00
    =======================================================================
    UY7   MR14S1 1c+1c Washington, Green, Sep. 1, att.  10.00   ----   2.00
    UY7m  M14S1 1c George W., Sep. 1, message only....   ----   ----    .50
                               Pre-1925 date on used copies is an absolute guarantee that it's Separation 1.
    UY7a3m M14 Sep 3 1c, Message only, Roulette 13½...   ----   2.00   ----
    UY7a4 MR14 Sep 4 1c Washington, Green Sep. 4, att.    .75    .60    .50
    UY7a4m M14 Sep 4 1c, Message Card only............   ----    .25    .25
    UY7a4r R14 Sep 4 1c, Reply Card only..............   ----    .25   ----
    UY7a4C MR14 Sep 4 1c Wash, Sep. 4, Canary, att....   1.20   1.00   ----
    UY7a4mC M14 Sep 4 1c Canary, Message Card only....   ----    .40   ----
    UY7a4rC R14 Sep 4 1c Canary, Reply Card only......   ----    .40   ----
    =======================================================================
    UY8r  R15  2c Washington, Reply Card only.........   ----   ----   7.50
    =======================================================================
    UY13-T1 MR22-T1 2c Washington, Red attached, Type 1   .80    .70   ----
    UY13-T1m M22-T1 2c Washington, T1 Message Card only  ----    .30   ----
    UY13-T1r R22-T1 2c Washington, T1 Reply Card only.   ----    .30   ----
    UY13-T2 MR22-T2 2c Washington, Red attached, Type 2   .75    .60   2.00
    UY13-T2m M22-T2 2c Washington, T2 Message Card only  ----    .25   ----
    UY13-T2r R22-T2 2c Washington, T2 Reply Card only.   ----    .25   ----
    =======================================================================
    UY14a MR23-2  2c on 1c Washington, Sch Left, Vert.   8.50   ----   ----
    =======================================================================
    UY15  MR25 2c on 1c Washington, Press-Printed, att   ----   ----   ----
    UY15m M25  2c/1c George Wash., Message Card only..   ----   ----  10.00
    UY15r R25 2c on 1c Martha Wash., Reply Card only..   ----   8.50   ----
    =======================================================================
    UY17  MR27-T1 3c Statue of Liberty, Type 1, att...    .90    .75   ----

 

END OF UNUSED  & USED POSTAL CARD LIST
 

RETURN TO HOME PAGE            LAST UPDATED: December 15, 2008

MINT FACE, UNUSED & USED CARD INFORMATION

     The "Penny Postal Card", introduced in 1873, changed the way Americans -- both businesses and just plain folks -- communicated with each other.  Before 1873, people wrote letters and businesses would send customers -- or prospective customers -- "enclosures" (invoices, statements, advertising) inside envelopes.

     First Class postage was 2c per HALF ounce.  Expensive...but reasonable, if you had a lot to say.  However, if you just wanted to send a quick message, it was overkill.  With a 1c Postal Card you could send a short message to anyone...at half the price.  Keep in mind, the telephone was still a few years in the future...and when it did arrive, long distance rates weren't cheap.  The Postal Card rapidly became popular for both "regular people" and businesses.

     At first, the emphasis was on personal correspondence.  The first 2 cards -- UX1 and UX3 -- were issued to the public as single cards only.  Business use of these first 2 cards wasn't widespread.  Quickly, businesses recognized the potential here, and asked the P.O.D. to issue UNCUT sheets (usually 40 cards or so) for printing ads.  The age of Postal Card advertising had begun.

     Many businesses used Postal Cards to carry on their daily trade with established customers.  Invoices, statements of account, "payment overdue" prods and notices of new product available were mailed regularly.  Legal notices were mailed by businesses and governments.  Meeting notices were mailed by organizations.

     Businesses also used Postal Card mailings to develop new clients, as well as prod the older ones to spend more.  In a certain sense, many of these cards were the equivalent of Internet SPAM.  For $100 (plus labor, which was cheap in those days!), a business could send a mailing to 10,000 customers...or prospects.  This was very cost effective.

     Another use was soon found for cards; business reply mail.  A "letter" was mailed to a customer, which contained a Postal Card with the printed address of the Company.  This courtesy generated a lot of business...so much so that in 1892 the P.O.D. began issuing "Message-Reply" double cards.  It worked pretty well for people, too....

     Except for a brief emergency increase during World War 1, the "Postcard Rate" remained 1c until 1952.  This was the Golden Age of the Postal Card.  And frankly, it was equally as good for its cousin, the Picture Post Card. 

     By the 1960s, inflation had forced both the "letter rate" and "card rate" higher to the extent that Postal Cards lost their huge cost advantage over regular first class mail.    In 1873, 1c vs. 2c was a big advantage; by 1973 6c vs. 8c was negligible; for the extra 2c it paid to use a letter and stuff it full of circulars, coupons, whatever...The "Golden Age" had come to an end for advertising.  Printed cards after the 1960s are difficult to find.

     But there was worse to come for the use of Postal Cards in general.  Long distance telephone rates would decrease, and the use of Postal Cards for personal correspondence would mirror that decrease...PLUS, the rise of the INTERNET and the use of E-MAIL in the 1990s pretty much murdered the Postal Card.

     I say this seriously; it is easier for me, as a dealer, to find a used UX3...MUCH easier...than it is to find a UX300.  You will probably note that the prices I charge for modern USED material -- when I actually have it in stock -- are well in excess of "catalog" prices.  Now you know why.  With rare exceptions -- usually stamp dealers -- people are just not mailing postal Cards.  The USPS produces them for collectors, and finding them in USED condition is difficult.

     POSTAL CARD QUALITY: THE BUCK STOPS HERE  First, you should read my remarks about quality as it relates to MINT POSTAL CARDS.  Then, I need to tell you about 2 other things.

     Printed cards are often just a slight notch below mint cards in overall quality.  The P.O.D. sold uncut sheets to businesses, which had them printed and cut.  That which gets run through a printing press sometimes doesn't come out as nice as it goes in.  If the card is printed on both sides, that goes double.  Commercial cutting may -- or may not -- be up to government standards.  There is much more HANDLING, producing creases.  The printing isn't always sharp and perfect.  The cards are then boxed & delivered.  More handling.

     By the way, not all "unused" or "mint face" cards are PRINTED.  Some are RUBBER STAMPED.

     There are 2 types of USED cards.  There are "civilian used" cards (mint cards, used for correspondence) and "business used" cards (printed cards, used for business purposes).  BOTH of these types must endure the rigors of the U.S. mails, but the business cards may suffer just slightly more, as a result of pre-mailing handling.

     AS ALWAYS, the buck stops here.  You should expect clean material, but an occasional (minor) crease, bend, damaged corner, smudge, dirt...and sometimes, a just plain lousy, over-inked postmark should be expected.  Anything worse is JUNK, and I will weed it out.