It's made of what?

What's It Wednesdays

ACHC #1973.025.80

This is a postcard depicting the Andover Theological Seminary, established in 1808, for those young men seeking to be ministers. Its three buildings were part of the Phillips Academy campus. For most of the 1800s, the Seminary held a world-wide reputation for its conservative Congregational philosophy and teachings.

But this isn’t about the Andover Theological Seminary.

Look closely. This postcard isn’t the type of postcard we usually see. This one is made of leather.

ACHC #1973.025.80 back

In 1861, the US Congress passed an act allowing privately printed paper cards weighing 1 oz or less to be mailed. Prior to that they had to be in an envelope. That same year, John P. Charlton, a printer in Philadelphia, received the first US copyright for a postcard design.

Popularity of postcards grew particularly after Congress allowed private companies to print postcards and mail them for the same 1 cent rate as government printed cards.

The early postcards were blank on the front for the message and the back was just for the address. In the late 1870’s postcards began appearing with images in addition to messages.

The Chicago World's Fair in 1893 showcased a set of "Official Souvenir" postcards, which popularized picture postcards. By turn of the century, most postcards had images on the front. New printing techniques of lithography and photogravure enabled photographers to print their photographs on postcards. Now, paper postcards were more than just mail. There were also souvenirs and advertisements.

The golden age of postcards began in the early 1900s. Nearly a billion postcards were mailed in the US each year from 1905 to 1915. Competition among publishing companies was fierce. So, some companies became creative.

All kinds of materials were used to interest buyers. In 1903, postcards made from leather appeared. They were made of deer hide and then decorated by the technique of pyrography or “fire-writing.” The images were burned into the leather, free-hand. This method was also known as “pokerwork” because the sharp tool was heated in a fire. The color was applied afterward. Burning the images and applying the colors became a popular craft of women.

Leather postcard used for advertising by Kipp Brothers Company, a fireworks and toy company in Indianapolis, IN, photo from Wikimedia Commons

Leather postcards were produced in a variety of designs from the silly to the sublime. Many were made as advertisements, others as novelties and souvenirs. Some were sold in a series. This enabled the sender to mail the cards one after another to convey a message or complete a puzzle.

Some leather cards had holes around the edges so that the cards could be stitched together into pillow coverings. Stores that sold postcards were encouraged to display leather postcard pillow coverings in their windows to promote sales.

Photo from Wikimedia Common

Our leather card has a Boston heritage. It was made at the Hy-Sil Manufacturing Company which began manufacturing leather postcards in 1903. The company later branched into producing wrapping paper and other paper products. The family-owned company closed in 2012.

Leather postcards met their decline in 1909 when the US Post Office banned the mailing of them because the soft leather cards jammed the new sorting machines. However, the postcards continued to be popular with tourists and collectors.

Do you have a leather postcard in your postcard collection? I'd love to see a photo if you do.

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