Early 1900s Postcards - 1,000+ Lots Auction on May 31, 2026 by ACME Auctions LLC in NY
Vintage American Civil War Naval Postcard: Virginia Sinking The Cumberland, March 8th, 1862Portraits of Five Presidents of the Church, Joseph Smith Family, Independence, MO postcardAnthropomorphic Easter Bunnies in Cracked Egg, Chromolithograph Postcard, Early 20th Century
Starts on:
Orient, NY, United States
Auction Details

Early 1900s Postcards - 1,000+ Lots

Step into the golden age of postcard collecting with this expansive May auction featuring more than 1,000 carefully cataloged lots from the late 19th and early 20th centuries ? a period widely regarded as the high-water mark of postcard artistry. From the era when a penny postcard carried both a personal message and a miniature work of art, this sale spans the full breadth of the medium's creative output: vibrant chromolithographs, atmospheric real photo postcards (RPPCs), richly embossed holiday greetings, and finely printed scenic views from every corner of the world. Lighthouse enthusiasts will find a remarkable sub-collection of nearly 100 lighthouse postcards, ranging from familiar New England beacons to remote Atlantic and Pacific stations, captured in chromolithograph, photographic, and colorized formats. Holiday collectors will discover dozens of Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, and New Year cards, many embossed and rich with the symbolism that defined turn-of-the-century greeting traditions. Also includes many cards from favorite publishers such as Tucks. The geographic reach is impressive. New York, Massachusetts, Maine, and Connecticut anchor a strong Northeast presence, complemented by views from Florida, Illinois, California, Virginia, Ohio, and beyond ? alongside European destinations including England, Switzerland, Italy, and France. Architectural collectors will appreciate the abundance of grand hotels, historic churches and cathedrals, town centers, and engineering marvels including bridges and railway scenes. Military and maritime collectors will find battleships, naval scenes, and patriotic imagery from the early dreadnought era. Every lot has been individually photographed and cataloged. All postcards are shipped in protective sleeves; lots hammering above $25 are additionally secured in rigid top loaders. We gladly combine shipping across multiple lots ? please await a combined invoice before remitting payment. Happy bidding!
Auction Curator:
David Bull
David Bull
Specialist: Comic Books, Ephemera and Collectibles
Live Bidding Starts In:
11
days
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04
hrs
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28
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52
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