1848-1872 1873-1897 1898-1913 1914-1945 1946-1990 1991-2008
Lipman’s Postal Cards
1861
LIPMAN CARDS 1861-1872
On February 27, 1861, the United States Congress passed a law permitting privately printed cards, one ounce or under, to be sent though the mail. One-cent postage was required for delivery on distances less than 1500 miles, and two cents postage for longer distances. It was the first official authorization for the use of postcards in the world though not without debate. This issue was surrounded by much controversy as privacy concerns from its open format and fears of revenue loss from lower postage rates abounded. Forty-two days later civil war erupted as Fort Sumter was fired upon, and the postcard debate was sidelined.
Sensing a business opportunity in letting the public send quick notes, John P. Charlton of Philadelphia took advantage of the new post card law and copyrighted America’s first postcard in 1861. The original card consisted of a simple design; a few lines for an address, a stamp box, and the copyright date, all printed in a choice of three different colors. This card was marketed as an easy way to stay in touch with family and a cheap means of advertising, all for half the cost of a letter. None of these cards were ever used to anyone’s knowledge.
It is uncertain when Hyman L. Lipman met John Charlton, but they were in business together when a second series of cards were introduced. These carried the name Lipman’s Postal Card printed on them. The earliest known postmark on a Lipman card is of October 25, 1870 mailed from Richmond, Indiana. This time the front contained a pictorial advertisement of an Esterbrook Steel Pen. It was the first authorized illustrated postcard to be sent though the United States mail but it soon became obsolete when the Government decided to release its own postal cards just three years later and monopolize production.
Use the link below for a more compleate history of this period.