Postcard Collecting Terms

Here is a list of some of the terms and abbreviations you may come across while collecting postcards. This list is by no way complete or even extensive but hopefully it will get you started with the more common abbreviations:


Terms which refer to age:

WB - White border, postcards produced in the US circa 1920-30. Not all postcards with a white border are white border era postcards however.
DB - Divided back, postcards published in the US circa 1907-1920. Before 1907 no message was allowed on the back hence these are called divided back.
UD or UDB - Undivided Back postcards published in the US circa 1901-1907, no message was allowed on the back hence no dividing line.
LN - Linen era postcard circa 1935-50.
CH - Chrome or photochrome postcard circa 1950 - present.

Terms which refer to grading *:

MT - Mint, absolutely perfect in every way.
NM - Near mint, almost perfect considered to some dealers to be as good as you can get.
EX - Excellent,
VG - Very good, may have some flaws but nothing major.
FR - Fair, has obvious flaws
PR - Poor, has many obvious flaws.

* There isn't a set standard for grading between postcard dealers as there is with records or comic books but a good dealer should provide information on any flaws and some indication of what their grading is based on.

Terms which refer to condition or specifics(these again may vary by dealer and if you find yourself confused when looking to buy be sure to ask what the specific term means):

AM - Album marks - usually some slight marks on the corners of cards from the album.
WOB - Writing on back.
WOF - Writing on front.
RPO - Railway post office postmark (some such marks are very collectible)
FLG CNL - Flag cancel - a specific US postmark which looks like a flag
CNL - Cancel referring to part of the postmark
BW - Black and white
RPPC - Real Photo Postcard (an actual photo made into a postcard)
RP - Real Photo see above.
CW - Corner wear
EW - Edge wear.
PC - Postcard
AS or A/S - Artist signed.
Folder - Generally a booklet in which views fold out like an accordion and are printed on both sides.

Hopefully this is somewhat helpful for more common abbreviations and terms. For a very complete reference including some more esoteric abbrev. try here.

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