Born in 1899, Thomas Dexter opened his first printing shop in 1920 and began producing postcards just a few years later. He developed a process that allowed for the creation of “Natural Color” cards well before World War II, significantly influencing the appearance and quality of mid-century American postcards. At its height, Dexter Press became the largest postcard printer in the country, with a production peak of four million cards per day.
Dexter Press has a fascinating history in American postcard publishing. The business started in Park Ridge, New Jersey, and by 1928 had outgrown its original location, moving to Pearl River, New York, where it continued to flourish.
In the 1930s, Dexter Press produced both linen postcards and hand-colored cards. Many collectors today, however, are most familiar with the natural color postcards that were printed at Dexter’s West Nyack, New York plant after 1952.
Dexter Press postcards come in a variety of sizes:
- Standard: 3½ x 5½ inches
- Continental: 4 x 6 inches
- Advertising, hotel, and restaurant cards: 5½ x 7 inches
- Large advertising cards: 6 x 9 inches
The card number is typically found on the back, either in the lower left corner or the upper right corner near the stamp box. Some cards from the 1950s may display the number in the lower center of the address side. Many cards also include the publishing date in the lower left corner.
Several factors help in dating Dexter Press postcards, including the cardstock, finish, and photographic content. Cards from the 1950s were printed on heavier stock with a flatter finish, often marked “Dextone Printing Process.” These cards were printed on Dextone paper, frequently labeled with “Kodachrome & Ansco Color by Dexter Press, Pearl River, New York.”
Dexter’s numbering system also provides clues:
- 1950-1951: #00001-39999
- 1951: #40000-59999
- 1952-1953: #60000s
- 1954: #70000s
- 1955: #80000s
- 1956-1957: #90000
- 1957: five-digit numbers with an “A”
- 1958: #1-10000-B
- 1959: #20000-B
- 1960: #30000-B
- 1961: #40000-B
- 1962: #50000-B
- 1963: #60000-B
- 1964: #70000-B to 99999-B
- 1965: #0-C to 9999-C
- 1966: #10000-C
- 1967: #20000-C
- 1968: #30000-C to 49999-C
- 1969: #50000-C
- 1970: #60000-C
- 1971-1974: #70000-C to 99999-C
- 1975-1983: #00001-D to 99999-D
In the early 1960s, Dexter Press transitioned to the high-gloss finishes for which “chromes” are now well known. Sorting through Dexter’s postcards by inventory number is a painstaking process, but it provides valuable insight into the history and evolution of these collectibles.
For collectors and nostalgia enthusiasts alike, Dexter Press postcards offer a window into the past. Each card preserves a piece of history, and knowing how to date them adds an extra layer of appreciation for these charming pieces of Americana.
Leave a comment