1907 leather postcard w/ 1 cent George Washington (Red) postage stamp

Private sale.

Item Overview

• Type: Antique Leather Postcard
• Date Mailed: November 18, 1907 (postmarked)
• Recipient: Mrs. Mary H. Spears, Tallula, Illinois
• Sender: Signed "From Ruth M"
• Stamp: Red 2¢ George Washington, Type III (Scott #319 or #319F)
• Dimensions: Approximately 3.25” x 5.25”
• Medium: Tanned and tooled leather with hand-colored floral design; paper stamp affixed and canceled

Historical Context

This postcard is part of a rare and collectible niche of early 20th-century American “leather postcards.” These were novelty items popular between 1903 and 1910, made from thin pieces of steer hide and mailed like regular postcards. The leather often featured embossed, burned, or painted images, like the yellow pansy flower shown here, and were considered a fun and durable alternative to paper cards.

Leather postcards were banned from mailing by 1909 by the U.S. Post Office due to mechanical issues they caused in sorting machines. This makes examples like yours—especially with a clear date stamp from 1907—valuable to ephemera collectors.

Stamp Details

• Subject: George Washington 2¢ (Red)
• Issued: 1903–1908
• Scott Number: Most likely #319 (Type III), from the definitive Washington-Franklin series
• Use: Commonly used for domestic postcard and first-class letter rates
• Cancellation: Nicely centered with “NEW CASTLE, IND.” visible in circular date stamp

Condition

• Leather Surface: Some creasing and age patina, typical for leather of this age, but still supple and intact
• Stamp: Clearly canceled, good color preservation
• Postmark: Crisp, full date legible
• Ink/Writing: Hand-addressed and signed in fountain pen—desirable feature
• Overall: Very good condition for a 1907 novelty mail piece

Estimated Value

• Leather postcard alone: $25–40 (rare category, collectible to both postcard and leather ephemera collectors)
• With intact and dated 2¢ stamp: Adds value due to completeness
• Historical and thematic interest (botanical illustration, women’s correspondence): Increases desirability

Total Estimated Value: $35–$55 USD on today’s collector market.

Note: If this card is part of a larger family archive or correspondence set (e.g., multiple leather postcards or all addressed to/from the same family), the value can increase significantly as a group.

Recommendations

• Storage: Store flat in an acid-free archival sleeve, away from light and moisture
• Preservation: Avoid pressing or flattening as this can crack the leather
• Professional Appraisal: Recommended if you intend to insure or donate a larger family correspondence collection