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 ?
A - PUBLISHERS page 1
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G.P. Abraham, Ltd. (Abraham Brothers) (1865-1920’s)
Lake Road. Keswick, England
Founded by photographer George Perry Abraham in England’s Lake District where he produced photographs and lantern slides of local scenery. His two sons, photographer Ashley and artist George Dixon joined the company and began producing real photo postcards by 1907. Avid rock climbers they did much to enhance the sport by publishing and illustrating guide books with their photos. Many of Ashley’s images were turned into real photo postcards with hand coloring done by George. They became a limited company in 1917.
Hans Friedrich Abshagen (1920-1930)
Dresden, Saxony
An art publisher who produced both books and postcards. They are know for their artist signed cards by Paul Hey and Margaret Thiele as well a a series on horses.
Acacia Card Co. (1940’s-)
258 Broadway, New York, NY
A publisher of linen view-cards depicting New York City.
Acmegraph Co. (1908-1918)
Chicago, IL
A publisher of national view-cards.
S. Adler (1932-1934)
Haifa, Palistine
(see Migdal)
G. Ajelli & Co. (1919-1922)
13 Grays Inn Road, London, England
A publisher of artist signed cards in halftone lithography. Produced many cards for Lawson Woods. There French made Olio series reproduced paintings and was printed with a heavily textured surface to simulate brush strokes.
Albany News Co. (1902-)
Albany, NY
A publisher and distributor of local postcards for the American News Company.
Albert Bonniers Ferlag 1837-
Stockholm, Sweden
Publisher Albert Bonnier founded this Company in 1837 and it grew to become the largest book publisher in Sweden. Under Karl Otto Bonnier’s supervision they began publishing artist signed postcards taken from the many illustrations found in their books. Carl Larson was one of their more notable artists.
The Albertype Co. 1887-1952
205 (260) Adams Street, Brooklyn, NY
A important printer and publisher since 1887 that utilized the albertype process. They first started printing books and then pioneer cards by 1893 going on to become a major publisher of national view-cards. Their postcards were not numbered and their name appears within the stamp box on their early cards. When the divided back postcard was authorized, the Albertype company created a line down the back of their cards with the words Post Cards of Quality and later with The Finest American Made View Post Cards. Many publishers large and small printed cards though the Albertype Co. They were purchased by Art Vue Post Card Company in 1952.
Many of their cards were printed in black & white but they also produced a tremendous number of hand colored cards. The style and quality of the way the watercolor paint was applied changed over the years but their RGB pallet remained consistent. One variation of these cards were printed as novelties in a 6 by 8 inch format.
They also printed postcards in duotones and tinted monochromes of various colors. An early type was their Sepia Delft series printed in dark high contrast tones. This was followed years later by their Blue Tone cards that were similar to their lower contrast black & white albertypes except for their color.
While most of Albertype’s postcards were based on photographs they also produced an unusual set of sepia art reproductions of line drawings.
Alexander Mfg. Co. (1908-1911)
Sandusky, OH
Published view-cards of Ohio through a number of different printers.
Alfieri & Lacroix (1913-)
Milan, Italy
A publisher of books and postcards. Their lithographic cards covered a variety of subjects from views to artist signed glamour to military propaganda. Some of their cards were published in booklet form.
David Allen & Sons, Ltd. (1890-1965)
Fleet Street, London, England
Important printers and publishers of posters for the theater, hotels, and railway companies. They used many well known artists of the day such as L. Barribal, John Hassall, E.P. Kinsella, and Lance Thackeray to create images for them. Many of these posters were later reproduced as lithographic postcards. They also produced many artist drawn postcards for other advertisers. Their factories were located in Harrow and Belfast up to 1918. Merged with Mills & Rockleys, Ltd. in 1965
Alsation Photomechanical Arts Co. (CAP) (1916-1969)
Strasbourg, France
This photo agency, Compagnie Alsacienne des Arts Photomecaniques published a large number of real photo postcards. Many of these cards were hand colored in a highly mannered style. They also produced printed cards in rotogravure, lithography, and some that were hand colored. In 1932 they bought out the studios of Levy & Neurdein reunis, but in 1969 all their work was added to that of the Roger-Viollet Photographic Agency.
Peter Alstups (1902-1923)
Kristiania, Norway
A photographer who published printed postcard views of local town and countryside scenes. Some cards had humorous themes. They were printed in monotone and black & white, some of which were crudely hand colored.
American Airlines 1930-
New York, NY
In 1930 a number of small airlines united to form American Airlines. Over the years they have absorbed many smaller companies. They published postcards in their early days in offset lithography that depicted their air fleet at various locations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
American Art Post Card Co. (1915-1953)
Boston and Brookline, MA
A publisher of black & white continuous toned, and color halftone view-cards. They used the trade name Photolux on many cards. Most of their white border cards were contracted out to Curt Teich. These cards are often recognizable by their blocky titles and numbers.
American Art Publishing Co. (1918-1925)
New York, NY
A publisher of postcards in halftone lithography for H. Finkelstein & Son. These cards are often noted for their bright but crude coloring. Many of these cards were printed by Curt Teich.
American Bank Note Co. 1856-1999
New York, NY
After the financial panic of 1857 seven important printing houses, some having printed money for the U.S. Treasury since 1795, merged the following year to form the American Bank Note Company. They specialized in the engraving and printing of stocks, bonds, paper currency, and stamps not only for the United States but for 48 other nations as well. They printed all U.S. stamps until 1894 when it was taken over by the federal Bureau of Engraving. They also set up a lithography department that printed non high security items such as advertising and trade cards. The company went bankrupt in 1999 as demand for their services declined.
American Colortype Co. (1904-1956)
111 East 14th Street, New York, NY and Chicago, IL
A publisher of books and halftone lithographic postcards that included views, greetings, expositions, and various military subjects. Thay merged with the Rapid Electrotype Company of Cincinnati to become Rapid American.
American Historical Art Publishing Co. (1903-1907)
111 East 14th Street, New York, NY
A publisher of chromolithographic postcards depicting scenes from early American history. Their compositions were often comprised of multable images tied together with highly decorative graphics. Because of the heavy layers of inks used many of these cards now suffer from flaking. These cards were printed in Germany.
American Import Co. (1908-1910)
Minneapolis, MN
A publisher of lithographic view-cards of the upper American mid-West in both monotones and in color. They produced many cards for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
American Lithographic Co. (ALCO) 1892-1929
52 East 19th Street, New York, NY
A Trust formed when the Knapp Company consolidated with the major lithographers of Donaldson Brothers of New York, F. Hepponheimer’s Sons of Jersey City, George Harris & Sons of Philadelphia, and the smaller New York printers of G. H. Buek & Co., Schumacker & Ettlinger, Witsch & Schmitt, and Lindner, Eddy & Clauss. Joseph P. Knapp became the Company’s first President and his old Knapp Co. became the art publishing branch of the new firm in 1900. Together they became the largest printers in the United States controlling 80 percent of the market. They produced a vast supply of lithographic products including a number of postcards. Many of their early cards were created through chromolithography including the official cards of the 1893 Columbian Exposition for Charles W. Goldsmith. They were purchased by Consolidated Graphics in 1930.
American News Co. (1864-1969)
119 Nassau Street, New York, NY
They claimed to be the largest publisher and distributor of books, magazines, newspapers, and postcards in the United States exclusively through their national network of affiliated news agencies. Their earliest cards were printed as black and white views, followed by their lithographic Polychromes. Other series were added each being printed in a different manner. Some of these techniques have a specific letter prefix to their numbers, while others kept adding letter prefixes sequentially from A as they ran out of four or five digit numbers assigned to that card. Many cards with undivided backs were later reprinted with divided backs after 1907. Many small publishers also contracted out postcards though the American News Company. Their printers in Leipzig, Dresden and Berlin, Germany produced most of their cards, but many were manufactured in France and the United States as well. They were an early importer of finely printed postcards from Germany in bulk, which did much to raise the public’s expectations in quality and further their interest in cards.
Americhrome - This series was printed in the United States using halftone lithography. These cards are characterized by a medium screen pattern, limited pallet, turquoise skies, and small red block lettering. Their soft look creates the illusion of continuous tone lithography. In later years white border cards and a fine textured linen type card were made that continued to carry the Americhrome name but not the old printed characteristics. They were not always published by the American News Company. Prefix M (1910-1941).
Bromide Chrome - A German made card printed in continuous tone lithography. Bromide Chromes are characterized by a sharp crisp image. Prefix E.
Doubletone Delft - A Gravure card in blue tones printed in Germany
Doubletone Sepia - A Gravure card in blue tones printed in Germany. Prefix AA
Druckchrome - A german made card printed with a black halftone, and then overlaid with continuous toned bright lithographic colors. (1910)
Embossed - These cards were simply colored though cards with the same numbers could have different coloring schemes.
Excelsior - A gravure card printed in Germany. It was marketed as their highest quality black & white card, and most customers chose this type over the cheaper halftone version. Almost all cards in this series are printed in black & white, but there are some examples issued in monochromes of blue and sepia as well as more rare cards that were printed in color and handcolored. Prefixes A, B, D, F (1904-1920), Prefixes AA for Blue, Sepia & Hand colored cards (1908-1925).
Hand Colored These cards were pinted in black & white and simply colored with a RGB pallet.
Helio Dore - A German made card printed in continuous toned heliogravure. These cards are characterized by flat tones, stylized clouds, and a dull finish.
Litho-Chrome - A German made card printed in continuous tone lithography. Their individual colors are sharp and tend to stand out. They are drawn more toward more solid tones than to texture. Many of these cards were printed with a dominant blue pallet that is sometimes so heavy to render a scene highly un-natural. Prefixes A, B, C, D, E, G, H. There are also five digit numbered cards with a B prefix that were printed in halftone. (1906-1909)
Mezzochrome - A German made card printed in a four-color printing process similar to that of a collotype. They have a very fine dot pattern, which gives them a more photographic than drawn look. Prefix D (1910-1911)
Monotone - A black & white halftone lithographic card. It was promoted as the highest quality budget card but its average look caused few to order cards in this series.
Newvochrome - A German made card printed in four-color continuous tone lithography. The colors on these cards tended to be applied in broad areas, characterized by a sharp look and a dull finish. Prefixes A, B, C, D, E (1909-1912)
Octochrome - A german made card printed using four-color continuous tone lithography. These cards are characterized by a sharp look with hard clean colors that emphasize blues and reds. Prefixes D, E (1909-1912)
Photo Chrome - This series in four-color lithography were printed in the United States. The grain of the continuous tone on these cards is so fine but distinct it almost resembles a halftone screen on close inspection. Photo Chrome cards are characterized by bright cool colors and a soft hand drawn look. Prefixes D, E, M (1912-1916)
Photo Helio - A German made card printed as a four-color continuous tone heliograph. These cards are characterized by a fine grain with smooth color transitions in the skies and crisp foregrounds. A bright cool pallet was usually used.
Plenochrome - These German made cards with a fine grain cards with a dull finish seem to bu printed in color gravure. Many cards were produced using this technique but most only have the name of a local publisher and lack the Plenochrome lable. It is not known if these cards were published through the American News Company or directly through the printer.
Poly-Chrome - A German Made card printed in continuous tone lithography. Its colors are bright and so flat that they almost resemble screenprints. The poly-chrome process was almost exclusively used before 1907. Other European publishers also used the same process but without the Poly-Chrome name. Prefixe A (1903-1907). Cards with the Poly-chrome name were also printed in the United States during the First World War, with an M prefix and white borders, but these lithographic cards have a grained texture. They were not always published by the American News Company.
Quarto-Chrome - A German made card printed in four-color continuous tone lithography. Prefix E (1909-1912)
Sextochrome - A French made lithographic card made by usilizing six-color halftone plates in its printing. These cards are characterized by an extremely fine grain. Prefix D (1917-1929)
Special Colored - A french made card printed in lithography by using four-color continuous tone plates. These cards are characterized by a crisp sharp image in black overprinted with colors in lighter tones. Prefix D (1908-1919)
Steeldrucktone - A series printed in gravure with deep brown tones. Prefix AA (1919)
Art Series - Though most of their cards were produced through photography they published a set of artist drawn postcards in halftone lithography.
One of their more mysterious sets of cards were hand colored in France with a more varied than usual pallet and a wider than usual border. While some cards are painted carefully in subtle tones others are loosely painted in bold colors. Only a few of these cards have a logo on them with most only carrying the local publishers name. They seem to have been largely distributed in New England by E.D. West, H.A. Dickerman, and the New England News Company. Many views were also made of Long Island, NY. The logo that appears on only some of these cards have been attributed to the Eastern News Company, but it is hard to say if the logo was used exclusively by them or the American News Company as well. A good many of these cards have no attributes at all.
The American News Company also used other trade names such as Double Tone Green, Rotochrome, and Waterette.
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