1986 Nat'l Postcard Week Honors Thomas Dexter Postcard

This commemorative postcard was published for National Post Card Week, May 4 to 10, 1986, by the Half Moon Post Card Club. It honors Thomas Dexter, a pioneering figure in American postcard history, shown here at a club meeting on October 25, 1985.

Born in 1899, 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.

After selling the business in 1972, Thomas Dexter turned to breeding racehorses, but his contributions to American printing and postcard culture remained highly regarded. Peter Laskaris took the photograph on the front of the card.

Published as card number four in the Half Moon Post Card Club series and printed by Dynacolor Graphics Inc. in Miami, Florida, this postcard is a unique piece of mid-century ephemera. It is ideal for collectors of National Post Card Week memorabilia, printing history, and vintage American publishing.