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Antique 1903 patriotic military postcard titled “American Troops,” featuring a colorful illustrated lineup of American soldiers representing different periods and branches of military service.
The detailed scene includes soldiers in historic uniforms carrying rifles, swords, polearms and American flags. Cannons, drums, military equipment and a formation of troops appear in the background. The illustration offers an attractive survey of American military dress and imagery from the colonial period through the early 20th century.
The card bears a 1903 copyright notice for the American Historical Art Publishing Company, with New York City and St. Louis locations printed along the edge. The lower-right corner identifies it as Lange, Series I, No. 26, and states that it was printed in Germany by L. Schwabacher.
The reverse is headed “Private Mailing Card” and includes the wording “Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898.” Its undivided-back format required the entire reverse to be used for the address, with correspondence traditionally written on the picture side.
This example is unused and retains its original colorful lithographic appearance. An appealing early postcard for collectors of American military history, historic uniforms, patriotic imagery, German printing and Private Mailing Card-era postal ephemera.
ITEM SPECIFICS
- Title: American Troops
- Type: Printed color lithograph postcard
- Postcard format: Private Mailing Card
- Era: Private Mailing Card Era
- Copyright date: 1903
- Subject: American soldiers and historic military uniforms
- Scene: Soldiers, rifles, swords, flags, cannons, drums and military equipment
- Publisher: American Historical Art Publishing Company
- Publisher locations: New York City and St. Louis
- Series: Lange, Series I
- Card number: No. 26
- Printer: L. Schwabacher
- Printing location: Germany
- Back inscription: “Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898”
- Postage condition: Unposted
- Writing: None
- Theme: Military history, American troops, uniforms, weapons and patriotism
- Country depicted: United States
- Country of manufacture: Germany
- Original/Reproduction: Original antique postcard
- Unit of sale: Single postcard
KEYWORDS
1903 American Troops postcard, antique military postcard, historic military uniforms, American soldiers, Private Mailing Card, American Historical Art Publishing Company, Lange Series I, No. 26 postcard, L Schwabacher, printed in Germany, patriotic postcard, American flags, antique weapons, rifles and cannons, military history, color lithograph and early postcard ephemera
