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Postcards from the 1890s and early 1900s

Albertype—Pioneer Postcards

The Albertype Co. issued a number of postcards showing Canadian scenes starting about 1898 and running until early in the 20th Century. These cards would often show the text “The Albertype Co. N.Y.” on the card front, and had a range of card backs including “the Albertype Souvenir Card”, “Private Mailing Card”, “Private Post Card" and “Post Card”. The cards shown from this era ranged from 1898 to about 1903.

From 1903 onwards, The Albertype Co. began issuing additional postcards published on behalf of small local publishers, both as undivided and divided back cards. These cards are shown on subsequent pages.

Across Canada

Pioneer Postcards by city

The Albertype Company first began publishing postcards with Canadian scenes primarily from several major Canadian cities, specifically, Halifax, Quebec City, Hamilton and Vancouver. Each of Halifax and Quebec City appear to have had an extensive series published.

The groupings below are arranged geographically from east to west.

Halifax

Halifax

9 photos

Evangeline

Evangeline

1 photo

Quebec

Quebec

11 photos

Ottawa

Ottawa

1 photo

Hamilton

Hamilton

1 photo

BC

1 photo

The variations noted

Postcard Backs

Some example of the backs on these pioneer postcards are shown below.

The earliest card I’ve come across in from Albertype thusfar is postally used on October 31, 1898. If you know of earlier dates, please let me know.

Greetings from Quebec Souvenir Card

Greetings from Quebec Souvenir Card

November 1898

Greetings from Halifax Private Post Card

Greetings from Halifax Private Post Card

Greetings from Halifax Private Mailing Card

Greetings from Halifax Private Mailing Card

Hamilton Market Post Card

Hamilton Market Post Card

Nov. 14, 1900

Greetings from Quebec Private Mailing Card

Greetings from Quebec Private Mailing Card

The card showing Hamilton Market was mailed in November 1900 to Paris, France. Note that Albertype released a series of cards showing Hamilton scenes using a larger than standard postcard format around that time. I haven’t seen the larger format cards in any other series.