Guide To Dating Dexter Press Postcards

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 Postcard Sizes

Dexter Press postcards were produced in several standard sizes:

• Standard: 3½ × 5½ inches
• Continental: 4 × 6 inches
• Advertising, hotel, and restaurant cards: 5½ × 7 inches
• Large advertising cards: 6 × 9 inches

Some Basics Regarding Dexter Codes

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.

• 1934–1950 (No Codes): Postcards from this early Pearl River era typically featured the publisher's name and address but no serialized production numbers. This includes white border cards and cards with no stamp box.
• 1950–1957 (Numeric Codes): Codes were introduced as simple five-digit numbers (e.g., 00001 to 99999) without any letters following them.
• 1957–1983 (Alphanumeric Codes): Dexter added a letter suffix to denote the decade of production.

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 Press Numbering System

• 1950–1951: #00001–39999
• 1951: #40000–59999
• 1952–1953: #60000s
• 1954: #70000s
• 1955: #80000s
• 1956–1957: #90000s
• 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 “chrome” postcards 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.

The Dexter Press “S” Series (1960s)

While many Dexter Press cards follow the numeric ranges (#00001–99999) or the B/C/D suffix system, there is also an “S” prefix numbering series commonly used for “Genuine Natural Color” chrome postcards in the 1960s. This system was often used by large regional publishers such as Western Resort Publications (Ferris H. Scott).

In this format, the letter S represents the 1960s decade, and the first digit following the S indicates the specific year of production.

How to Decode the “S” Prefix

• S0xxxx: 1960
• S1xxxx: 1961
• S2xxxx: 1962
• S3xxxx: 1963
• S4xxxx: 1964
• S5xxxx: 1965
• S6xxxx: 1966
• S7xxxx: 1967
• S8xxxx: 1968
• S9xxxx: 1969

Example

If you have a card with the serial number S18012-2, it was printed in 1961. The “-2” at the end typically indicates a second printing or revised run of that image.

The S-series represents the vibrant, high-gloss “travel boom” era of the early 1960s.

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.