1911 postcard w/ 1 cent Ben Franklin cancelled postage stamp

Private sale.

Item Overview

• Type: Early 20th Century Illustrated Postcard with Postage
• Date Sent: April 14, 1911 (postmarked)
• Origin/Destination: Sent from Arkansas to Tallula, Illinois
• Recipient: Mrs. Mary H. Spears
• Publisher: Raphael Tuck & Sons, Series 127 ("Easter Greetings")
• Stamp: 1¢ Green Benjamin Franklin, Washington-Franklin Issue (Scott #374)
• Dimensions: 3.25" x 5.25"
• Medium: Paperboard (postcard) and paper stamp

Front Design & Artistic Details

This chromolithographic postcard features a classically styled female figure adorned in a flowing gown and surrounded by white lilies and greenery. Titled "Easter Greetings," it is an example of seasonal ephemera and aesthetic tastes of the Edwardian era. The artwork is printed with the high production quality typical of Raphael Tuck & Sons, known for their fine postcards and Royal Warrant under Queen Victoria and successors.

Back Details

• Printed Text: "Tuck's Post Card" – Art Publishers to Their Majesties the King and Queen
• Handwritten Note: Neatly penned message with address
• Stamp: 1¢ Benjamin Franklin (Scott #374), green, used to pay postcard rate in 1911
• Postmark: Clearly visible circular cancellation stamp with "APR 14 1911" date from Arkansas

Stamp Information

• Design: Benjamin Franklin, green, single-line watermark, perforated 12
• Scott Catalog Number: #374 (issued 1910–1911)
• Usage: Common for postcard and first-class domestic mail
• Condition: Nicely centered, clean cancellation, affixed well

Condition

• Card: Minor edge wear and age-related toning, no creases or tears
• Stamp: Very good, bold postmark, intact perforations
• Overall: Solid collectible-grade condition, especially for over 110 years old

Estimated Value

• Tuck’s postcard (individually): $8–15 USD
• Franklin 1¢ Stamp on-postcard usage: $2–4 (adds value for being intact and dated)
• Historical and thematic appeal (Easter, Edwardian art): increases value for thematic collectors

Total Estimated Value: $12–$20 USD in today's collector market.

If this card is part of a larger lot of early 1900s family correspondence—particularly Tuck’s cards or postcards with historical postal elements—it may command a premium as a set

Recommendations

• Preservation: Store in acid-free postcard sleeves or archival photo albums
• Display: Avoid direct light to preserve color vibrancy
• Professional Appraisal: Recommended if you possess multiple similar postcards from the same family (especially holiday or artistic series from Raphael Tuck)