Condition: Very Good â Light wear at corners, natural aging to leather; embossing and coloration well-preserved
Back Design: Standard postcard layout typical of early 20th-century leather mailers
Historical Context
This postcard is a humorous embossed leather postcard from the golden age of novelty mailing, roughly between 1905â1907. During this period, U.S. mail regulations allowed leather postcards to be mailed using a one-cent stamp, provided they met size and weight guidelines. These leather cards were often humorous or patriotic in theme and were created as curios or souvenirs.
The phrase "Teddy and His Little Bear Behind" plays on a double entendre involving President Theodore âTeddyâ Roosevelt, whose refusal to shoot a captured bear cub during a 1902 hunt inspired the creation of the âTeddy Bear.â This makes the card both a visual pun and a piece of Roosevelt-era ephemera.
The back features a printed âPOST CARDâ heading and address lines, standard to leather postcards intended for mailing.
Origin & Maker
While not explicitly marked, the design characteristicsâespecially the typeface, the fine embossing, and the clever phraseâstrongly suggest manufacture by M.H. Tuttle of New York or a similar producer. Tuttle was one of the most prolific leather postcard publishers and often used minimal back markings. A small logo seen on the front may represent the printerâs or artistâs initials, possibly âMHTâ or âWHS.â
These postcards were likely sold at souvenir stands, general stores, and Worldâs Fair-type expositions across the U.S.
Market Value (as of 2025)
Retail Value (Unsigned, Unused): $18â30 USD
Collector Value (Roosevelt or Teddy Bear memorabilia focus): $35â50 USD
Auction Estimate (Specialty postcard or historical ephemera auctions): $40â60 USD
Replacement/Insurance Value: $50 USD
Unused examples such as this one are more desirable, especially with crisp embossing and period humor intact. While not rare, leather postcards of this quality are collectible, particularly among Teddy Bear collectors, postcard historians, and Roosevelt memorabilia enthusiasts.
Recommendations
Storage: Keep flat in an acid-free sleeve; avoid folding or exposure to heat/humidity.
Authentication: Optional, but a paper ephemera appraiser could confirm the manufacturer and date more precisely if needed.
Selling Tip: If selling, list under âAntique Leather Postcard,â âTeddy Roosevelt Ephemera,â and âTeddy Bear Collectiblesâ on platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Delcampe for best visibility.
seeking appraisal for vintage postcard
Private sale.
Unused Leather Postcard â âTeddy and His Little Bear Behindâ
Item Overview
Historical Context
This postcard is a humorous embossed leather postcard from the golden age of novelty mailing, roughly between 1905â1907. During this period, U.S. mail regulations allowed leather postcards to be mailed using a one-cent stamp, provided they met size and weight guidelines. These leather cards were often humorous or patriotic in theme and were created as curios or souvenirs.
The phrase "Teddy and His Little Bear Behind" plays on a double entendre involving President Theodore âTeddyâ Roosevelt, whose refusal to shoot a captured bear cub during a 1902 hunt inspired the creation of the âTeddy Bear.â This makes the card both a visual pun and a piece of Roosevelt-era ephemera.
The back features a printed âPOST CARDâ heading and address lines, standard to leather postcards intended for mailing.
Origin & Maker
While not explicitly marked, the design characteristicsâespecially the typeface, the fine embossing, and the clever phraseâstrongly suggest manufacture by M.H. Tuttle of New York or a similar producer. Tuttle was one of the most prolific leather postcard publishers and often used minimal back markings. A small logo seen on the front may represent the printerâs or artistâs initials, possibly âMHTâ or âWHS.â
These postcards were likely sold at souvenir stands, general stores, and Worldâs Fair-type expositions across the U.S.
Market Value (as of 2025)
Unused examples such as this one are more desirable, especially with crisp embossing and period humor intact. While not rare, leather postcards of this quality are collectible, particularly among Teddy Bear collectors, postcard historians, and Roosevelt memorabilia enthusiasts.
Recommendations