This text was obtained via automated optical character recognition.
It has not been edited and may therefore contain several errors.


GENERAL POSTCARD SYMBOLS *S//> '
/> j ejS*- <f
sc—Slogan Cancel
The era for post cards and the symbols are as follows. There can be some overlapping between divided back and linen eras. All cards are assumed to be pre-1920 unless stated otherwise in descriptions.
PN—Pioneer era 1870-1 898 PMC—Private Mailing Card 1898-1901 Und/B—Undivided back 1901-1907 D/B— Divided Back 1907-191 5 W/B—White Border 1 91 6-1930 (there are	some cards
produced until 1920 without white border)
L—Linen 1930-1945 C/Mod—Chrome or modern 1946-on Various postmarks found on post cards.
dpo—Discontinued post office rfd—Rural Federal (free) Delivery rpo—Railroad Post Office tc—Transfer Clerk (a railroad pm)
hpo—Hiway Post Office fc—Flag Cancel expo-pm—Exposition cancel (postmark)
V ' ■J'
/Yt S/v- - /> j (M* <j
(All cards should be assumed to be in color unless otherwise stated in descriptions.)
Bas—Bas-relief
b/w—Black and White
cof—Cancel on Face
cu—Close-Up
cpy—Copyright
cr—Crease
crn—Corner
cv—Catalog Value
dup—Duplicate
dif—Different
emb—Embossed
expo—Exposition
flat—Not embossed
(if neither term is used it can be
assumed it is flat)
hvy—Heavy
hor— Horizontal picture It—Light
m/t—Margin tear mb—Minimurrt bid (the seller will not sell the card for less than the value indicated) o/w—Otherwise pm—Postmarked rp—Real Photo Card ser—or srs—or sers—Series s/m—Stamp missing or gone tn—Tinted tr— Tear
is
a
the
.<•/S/dx. *//> ' unu—Unused	ft '
und/b—Undivided back
u—Used
v or vert—Vertical picture wob—Writing on back wof—Writing on face
*	or PH—the asterisk before a lot number or the letters PH at the end of a lot description indicates that the lot described photographed.
( ) —a	number within
parenthesis indicates number of cards in a lot.
" Numbered in consecutive order.
Not numbered in consecutive order.
Some symbols may be used together, as It/cr which means light crease. Or It/cof means light cancel on face, etc.
DELTIOLOGY is a fun hobby. Participate and join your local post card club today.
IF you believe added symbols should be used above, send to Barr’s Post Card News, 70 South 6th St., Lansing, IA 52151.
PICTURE POST CARD GRADES as requested by collector readers of Barr’s Post Card News Survey of Feb. 3, 1983
M—MINT A perfect card just as it comes from the printing press. No marks, bends or creases. No writings or postmarks. A clean and fresh card. Seldom seen.
NM—NEAR MINT Like mint but very very light aging or very slight discoloration from being inanalbumformanyyears. Not as fresh looking.
EX-EXCELLENT Like mint in appearance with no bends or creases nor rounded or blunt corners. May be postally used or unused and with writing and postmark only on address side. A clean fresh card on picture side.
VG—VERY GOOD Corners may be just a bit blunt or rounded. Almost undetectible crease or bend that does not detract from overall appearance of picture side. May be writing or postally used on address side. A very collectible card.
AV—AVERAGE Creases and bends more pronounced. May be writing in margins on picture side. Postmark may show through from address side but not on main portion of picture. Corners more rounded.
G—GOOD Corners may be
noticeably blunt or rounded
with noticeably slight bends or
creases. May be postally used
or writing on address side. Less
than VG. i
PR—POOR Card is intact. Excess soil, stained, cancel may affect picture with writing on either side. Could be a scarce card hard to find in any condition with heavy creases.
SF— SPACE FILLER Poor condition as above and may have corners torn or corners missing etc. and breaks. Least desirable of all above.


Postcards Document (12)
© 2008 - 2024
Hancock County Historical Society
All rights reserved