Private Mailing Cards 1898

In 1898, Congress passed an act allowing private printing companies to produce postcards with the statement "Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898." The words "Private Mailing Card" separated privately printed cards from the US government printed cards. Writtten messages were not allowed on the address side as indicated by the words "This side for the Address," or slight variations of this phrase. However, if the front of the postcard did not contain an image, it could bear a larger message. If the front did have an image like this example, one could use the smaller white areas for a small message, as shown here. This government approved move into allowing more picturesque postcards lasted only a brief 3 years.

I am confused. What happened then? Where are you getting this information?

The following chronology was from an internet page of the Chicago Postcard Museum where they list major dates and facts related to those chosen dates. By 1901 it seems the post office would allow cards merely stamped "Post Card" to move through the mails at the same basic one cent stamp rate as Government issued cards enjoyed.
So the doors were thrown wide open to street scenes, art works, famous personages, in fact almost anything that could be photographed or drawn. Sadly, this included postcards in the United States made at racially motivated lynching's in these early years.

Quoting from the Chicago Postcard Museum web site...
1898, May 19: private publishers and printers allowed to produce postcards. Senders had to attach a 1¢ stamp. Manufacturers required to print the words "Private Mailing Card" on the back of the card. Changing design features can help approximate dating of these cards Messages were not allowed on the address side (the back) of the Private Mailing Card, so some small blank area was often left on the front/picture side for writing short messages. Further information printed on the back of the card included "Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898", "This side is exclusively for the Address" and often "Postal Card - Carte Postale", indicating the card might be sent abroad.

1901: The labeling on the back of the postcard changed from "Private Mailing Card" to "Post Card". Messages were still not allowed on the back with the message. The back was undivided by a line.

Which side of a Post card is the front?

http://goscf.com/t/75196

It looks as if the card in the 1st post was faced and canceled by a machine.

It is unfortunate the Chicago Postcard Museum does not build their definitions and history directly from quoted postal rules and regulations. I fail to see how a slight change in address-side terminology in 1901 changes the level of illustration on the picture side to "throw the doors open", as I have illustrated cards from the 1898-1901 period. It is clear they are writing from a blindered postcard standpoint.

As a disclaimer related to the linked thread above, I am one who believes the address/stamp are on the FRONT of any mail piece whether envelope, postal cards, or postcard.

Slight clarification. The card in the original post was *manually* faced, then run through the canceling machine.

John,
If I am understanding your post correctly, you have a good number of postal cards from the 1898-1901 period that were privately produced and are without the "Authorized by act of Congress..." added to the card.
Is that correct?
Scotty

I have a small number of picture cards used in the fall of 1898 which are inscribed "Souvenir Card", although under the stamp the text is "if other side contains writing use 2-cent stamp, otherwise 1 cent." Thus instructed/posted as if they were printed matter, third class mail, I believe.