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Ellis Post Card Company

Fort Lewis Liberty Gate Tacoma WA RPPC Ellis 7310 Pre WWII Army Base Postcard

Fort Lewis Liberty Gate Tacoma WA RPPC Ellis 7310 Pre WWII Army Base Postcard

$12.00 USD
$12.00 USD
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Low stock: 1 left

AT A GLANCE

Title:
"Fort Lewis Liberty Gate"
Publisher:
Ellis Post Card Company
Type:
Standard Size Postcard (3 ½” x 5 ½”)
Subject:
U.S. Army base, Fort Lewis entrance gate
Style:
Documentary | Landmark
Era:
Interwar Period (1918 – 1941)
Circa:
1938 - 1941
Print type:
Silver gelatin real photo (EKC paper)
Condition:
Good (G)
Color:
Sepia-toned
Postcard:
Real Photo (RPPC)
Location:
Tacoma, Washington, USA
Postmark:
Unposted | Unused
Notes:
Ellis Post Card Co. (#7310); attributed to J. Boyd or Clifford Ellis

Compelling pre–World War II real photo postcard capturing the iconic Liberty Gate at Fort Lewis.

Collector’s Note

📌Military base entrance views—particularly named gates like Fort Lewis’s “Liberty Gate”—are highly collectible for their connection to pre-war mobilization, architecture, and U.S. Army history.

This real photo postcard features the Liberty Gate entrance to Fort Lewis, a major United States Army installation established in 1917 and later incorporated into Joint Base Lewis–McChord. The distinctive stone-and-timber gate, completed in 1918 and designed by noted Spokane architect Kirtland Cutter, served as a symbolic and functional entry point to the post.

The scene captures a guard checkpoint with period automobiles and uniformed personnel, offering a vivid snapshot of base life during the late 1930s. Details such as the “SLOW” roadway sign and the soldiers’ uniforms help place the image firmly within the pre–World War II mobilization era.

The photograph is marked “Ellis 7310” and printed on EKC (E. C. Kropp Company) photographic paper, attributed to the Ellis Post Card Company of Washington State—well known for documenting regional landmarks and military installations.

A desirable piece for collectors of military history, Washington State imagery, and architectural landmark postcards.

Good condition with a bent lower right corner and visible toning and surface wear to the reverse. Image remains clear with strong contrast. Unposted. Will ship in a protective postcard sleeve.

Photographer Biography

The Ellis Post Card Company, founded by J. Boyd Ellis, was a prolific Washington State publisher known for documenting regional landmarks, tourism sites, and military installations. Later joined by his son Clifford B. Ellis, the studio produced thousands of photographic postcards that remain widely collected today.

Just a quick heads‑up: the photos reveal details far better than text alone, so they’re worth a close review.

We share as much accurate information as possible about each item—from provenance to condition—but the images often show the nuances best. If you ever need more details, we’re always happy to help.

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Postcard Eras & Collecting Guide

  • Real Photo Postcards (c. 1890–1945)

    Early printed lithographs and Real Photo Postcards (RPPC) offer rich historical detail, documenting towns, events, family portraits, and everyday life. Disaster postcards depicting floods, fires, train wrecks, and other catastrophic events, were a popular way to share news as photographs could quickly be turned into postcards. Many RPPCs are scarce and unique due to their small‑batch production.

    Browse Real Postcards 

  • Pre-Linen Litho & Linen Postcards (c. 1907–1950)

    Pre‑Linen Litho cards (c. 1907–1929) were printed using smooth chromolithography and tinted halftone methods, producing soft, painterly views before the textured linen era. Linen postcards (c. 1930s–1950s) introduced high–rag‑content paper with a woven surface and bold saturated colors that reflected the optimism postwar travel culture. Together, these eras showcase the shift from early color printing.

    Browse Pre-Linen Litho and Linen Postcards 

  • Chrome Postcards (c.1939–)

    Chrome postcards, introduced in 1939, feature glossy surfaces, vivid color, and photographic imagery made possible by modern color film processes. The term “chrome” derives from Kodachrome, Eastman Kodak’s groundbreaking color film. Mid‑century examples depicting motels, highways, city skylines, national parks, and tourist destinations are collected for their documentation of postwar American travel and roadside culture.

    Browse Chrome Postcards