1905 postcard w/ 1 cent Benjamin Franklin postage stamp

Item Overview

• Type: Antique Postcard with Postage Stamp
• Date Mailed: September 11, 1905 (postmarked Colorado Springs, CO)
• Recipient: Mrs. Mary H. Spears, Fall City, Illinois
• Publisher: M. Tuttle Co. (Copyright 1904)
• Dimensions: Approx. 3.25” x 5.25”
• Medium: Cardboard postcard stock, printed with halftone image and black ink; includes green 1¢ stamp featuring Benjamin Franklin

Postcard Details

The postcard is a classic early 20th-century souvenir type known as a “Greetings From” postcard, a popular genre beginning in the early 1900s. The dramatic block lettering filled with photo scenes of Colorado Springs is typical of M. Tuttle Co. postcards, known for high-contrast black-and-white visuals.

These were mass-produced and mailed widely during the golden era of postcards (1898–1915), a time when they were among the most common forms of casual communication.

Stamp Details

• Stamp Type: 1902 Series – Benjamin Franklin 1¢ green
• Design: "U.S. Postage One Cent – 1706 Franklin 1790"
• Scott Catalogue No.: Most likely Scott #300 (issued 1903–1908)
• Print Method: Engraved; flat plate printing

This Franklin 1¢ stamp is among the most used and recognized early 20th-century U.S. issues. Though common in mint or lightly used condition, having it canceled on a dated and legible postmarked postcard from 1905 adds collectible and historical value, especially with the full message and intact card.

Condition

• Postcard: Good, with some corner wear and age-related toning, but excellent legibility and intact edges
• Stamp: Clearly canceled, centered reasonably well; still attached
• Handwriting: Legible and attractive—this improves collector interest
• Overall: A nicely preserved and historically appealing example of a real mailed card from the early 20th century

Estimated Value

• Postcard Alone: $5–10
• Stamp Alone (on card, canceled 1905): $1–3
• Combined Value as a Historical Ephemera Item: $15–25 USD retail value in today’s collector market, possibly more if sold as part of a well-preserved set or historical postal archive.

Recommendations

• Do Not Remove the Stamp: It holds more value in its original mailed context
• Archival Storage: Keep in an acid-free sleeve, away from light to avoid fading
• Professional Appraisal: Not necessary for this specific card unless part of a larger pre-1920s collection