A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

False Intaglio
An image with a plate mark surround it to insinuate it is a hand printed intaglio print when it was most likely produced by other means. When the paper holding the image is dry, it is passed over a blank intaglio plate that creates an embossed plate mark without disturbing the picture. Postcards in photogravure employed false intaglio plate marks the most. Even though gravure is an intaglio process these cards were printed in large sheets, which were latter cut down, leaving no plate marks.

Farbenphotographie
An old German reference to color photography, sometimes also called heliochromy. These early color photographs were largely produced through the autochrome process. Many were made into prints and postcards using three color process printing in RGB colors. These postcards have the same look of early photochromes. It was an expensive process and not widely used commercially. Many news photographers became attracted to autochromes during the First World War so there is a predominance of these postcards portraying war imagery.

Ferrotyping
A process of drying photographs with a silver gelatin emulsion while pressed against a sheet of polished metal or glass. A high gloss finish is imparted when the photo is peeled off. Ferrotyping can also refer to a type of damage done to a photograph when it is inadvertently stored under pressure against a smooth surface. Pressure can impart irregular patches of gloss to a photo. This can sometimes be seen on real photo postcards stored in plastic that have been bundled too tightly together.

Field-post Cards
A type of early postcard that was made available to soldiers in the field during wartime. They were first introduced in Prussia during their war with France in 1870 to provide a convenient way for soldiers to keep in touch with family. They were originally government issued with a printed stamp but no pictures. They were meant strictly for brief correspondence. In latter years, especially by World War One, many private postcard publishers began producing field-post cards with imagery on them. This is best illustrated by the feldpostkartes produced in Germany.

Film
A thin flexible transparent surface that holds a photosensitive emulsion on one side. Commercially available glass plates were first manufactured in 1875, and their convenience and availability helped create a large amateur photography market during the 1880s. These plates were still very cumbersome to deal with, and when the Eastman Dry Plate Co. offered a substitute for glass with a flexible nitrocellulose roll film coated with a photosensitive gelatin emulsion in 1889 it was quickly accepted. By 1913 film became available in sheets. This early type of film with collodion emulsions was replaced in 1950 because of its highly unstable properties.

Finger Cancel
An ink mark applied to postage by the literal hand of a postal employee to cancel it when a hand stamp has failed to cover it. This may be do to a large number of postage stamps applied or simple misaiming.

Flatbed Cylinder Press
A printing press in which the form or plate is mounted on the flat bed of a press. Grippers on an impression cylinder pick up paper one sheet at a time, and as the cylinder revolves, the inked plate moves under it, and the paper and plate are squeeze together between the cylinder and the bed, which transfers the image to the paper. When the impression is complete, the flatbed returns to its original position and is inked for the next impression.

Flexography
A relief printing process where a flexible plate made of molded rubber is adhered to a printing cylinder, then inked with a finely textured roller, and directly rolled onto a substrate to create a printed image. Its basic principles are the same as letterpress printing but this process is more versatile. Flexography can be used to print on almost any surface, porous and non-porous alike, such as, leather, plastic, metal, paper, plastic, and wood. It was used to create certain novelty postcards where the unusual material utilized could not be run through a more conventional press.

Fluxus (Flowing)
An international collective movement founded by artist George Maciunas in 1960, to promote anti-art ideals. Fluxus, like Dada, sought to enlarge the meaning of art by challenging the public’s definition of it. Common forms of media were often recombined in unpredictable was to create new meaning. The group’s first activities containing music and street performances, took place in Germany, then moved on to Paris, Copenhagen, Amsterdam, London and New York. Many avant-garde artists of the 60’s worked with this group, who later branched out to form different movements. One of these new trends was mail-art which incorporated the use of postcards.

Flycard
A brand name for free rack cards published by FlyCards in Russia. They dominate the Eastern European market.

Foldout
A postcard printed on paper at least twice the length of standard size, and then folded into panels so it can be mailed as a regular sized postcard. Two and three panels were most common, but some cards had as many as eight. Through excessive wear these folds often tear apart and single panels can find their way into the market. Foldout cards have been printed since the pioneer era.

Form
Type, spacing bars, or picture blocks, for Letterpress printing, locked in a cast iron chase, and ready for printing.

Fototipia
A term found on Italian postcards indicating printing by the collotype process.

Foxing
Brown spot-like stains found on paper. They can be caused by the oxidation of iron particles (ferric oxide) in the paper’s chemical residue left over from manufacturing. But foxing is most often caused by the action of enzymes from mold that has attached itself to accommodating impurities, and encouraged to grow by a damp and warm environment. It is now believed that some of these brown stains are also a form of cellulose oxidation damage caused by repeated drying and wetting from environments with high fluctuations in humidity.

Framed Cards
A postcard with a border wider than a simple white edging. While many of these cards are bounded by simulated printed picture frames, cards with plain to elaborate decorative borders can fit under this definition as well.

Franking
The ability to send mail free of postage. This privilege applies to military personnel who are allowed to send mail for free during wartime, and to Congressmen who can send free literature out to their constituents. For some, metered mail fits under this definition as it is not sent for free but no postage is added to it in the form of stamps; instead a machine prints out a receipt stating the amount of postage paid, which is then adhered to the mail.

Freecards
Another term for free rack cards most often used in Europe.

French Fold
A sheet of paper that is folded twice at right angles. For cards this forms a double fold with an underside that is left blank and a outside on both sides of one fold that is printed upon. French folded greeting cards were first manufactured in 1913.

French Postcards
Postcard sized photographs or printed images of nudes published in the latter 19th century. Many came from the French magazine La Beaute that published 75 monthly poses for artists. They were not literally postcards as they were illegal to mail.

Friendly Societies
Membership organizations that published postcards to attract more members or publicize their events.

Frosted
An informal term used to describe the look of postcards printed by the Photochrome Process Company of Philadelphia. These cards were supposed to be look a likes to the Detroit Publishing Company’s Phostints, but they have a soft dull dry finish.

This term was also used to describe printed and real photo postcards that had a white crystalline substance pasted onto them in order to simulate icy frost or snow. This technique is most often found on Christmas cards.