Printing technology of Edwardian Postcards

lithograph
- 18761031-CourtCard
- 18860513-Shaw
Collotype

Collotype prints use a gelatin based coating on a metal plate. The coating dries and cracks as it is exposed to light, and the cracks in the coating absorb the ink that is transferred to the print. The delicate coating means that it is more suited to shorter print runs.

Collotypes contain a lot of detail and have a distinctive patter when magnified, and they are printed on coarse paper. It was the most popular print process for early postcards, but starts to become less common towards 1910.
Halftone

Halftone simulates variations in the tone of a colour by using dots that vary in size or spacing depending on the strength of the colour. It is most commonly associated with photographs in newspapers. The effect is generated by projecting the image through a fine screen.

Halftone is printed on smoother paper. It is better suited to larger print runs than the collotype process, and becomes more common as the Edwardian era progresses.
- 19020321-Abingdon
- 19020611-AbingdonRiver (duplicate)
- 19040313-ChristsHospital
- 19040616-ParkRoad
- 19040714-TheRookery
- 19040921-StNicholas
- 19040926-TheTownHall
- 19041222-OckStreet
- 19050324-StHelensfromTheBridge
- 19050501-AbingdonSteamFireEngine
- 19050816-MarketPlace
- 19050819-AbingdonAbbey
- 19050906-OckStreet (duplicate)
- 19060709-Townhall
- 19070219-TownHall
- 19070719-HighStreet
- 19071020-AbingdonFromBelow
- 19080122-TownHall (duplicate)
- 19081001-AlbertPark
- 19081018-AlmsHouses
- 19081119-AlbertPark (duplicate)
- 19090102-AbingdonGateway
- 19090326-BoathouseBridge
- 19090821-Comp
- 19100121-TheThamesAtAbingdon
- Valentines-25169-StNicholasChurchCrop (duplicate)
- Valentines-36302-AbingdonFromTheBridge
- Valentines-36312-MarketPlace (duplicate)
- HeraldicOckStreet
- Burrow-StHelens-Church
- OldAbbey
- EastStHelensStHelens
- ConventChapel
- BostockAvenue
- StHelensFromBridge (duplicate)
- ThamesHeraldic
chromo-lithograph
- 19030711-AbingdonStHelens
- 19040818-AbingdonStHelens (duplicate)
- 19050627-AbingdonGeneralView
Real photo

"Real photo" postcards are photographic prints used as photographs. They tend to appear on fancier more expensive cards, or very niche cards made for very short runs. They hold the greatest level of detail in their images.
- Valentines36312-MarketPlace (duplicate)