Real Photo Postcard (RPPC)
Early Horseless Carriage RPPC c.1900 | Tiller-Steered Auto, Aurora IN Photographer
Early Horseless Carriage RPPC c.1900 | Tiller-Steered Auto, Aurora IN Photographer
Flat $2.00 USPS First Class shipping on all postcards within the continental USA.
Flat $2.00 USPS First Class shipping on all postcards within the continental USA.
Low stock: 1 left
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AT A GLANCE
- Type:
- Standard Size Postcard (3 ½” x 5 ½”)
- Subject:
- Horseless carriage, early automobile
- Style:
- Early Automotive; Turn-of-the-Century
- Era:
- Turn of the Century (1890 - 1915)
- Circa:
- 1900 - 1910
- Print type:
- Silver gelatin real photo (CYKO paper)
- Condition:
- Very good-excellent (VG-EX)
- Color:
- Sepia-toned (black-and-white photograph)
- Postcard:
- Real Photo (RPPC)
- Photographer:
- G. R. Hussung
- Location:
- Aurora, Indiana USA
- Postmark:
- Unposted | Unused
- Notes:
- Embossed photographer mark; tiller steering; early automobile design
Circa 1900–1910 Real Photo Postcard (RPPC) featuring an early gas-powered horseless carriage with a seated couple, captured in a studio-quality outdoor photograph. The vehicle is steered by a tiller rather than a wheel—an early design feature most commonly associated with automobiles produced before the widespread adoption of steering wheels in the early 1900s.
Images of these transitional motor vehicles are scarce, documenting a brief but important period in the evolution from carriage to automobile. The formal pose of the driver and passenger, dressed in period attire, reflects the novelty and prestige of early motoring.
The postcard is printed on CYKO photographic paper, dating it between approximately 1904 and the 1920s, and features a subtle sepia tone typical of early silver gelatin prints. An embossed photographer’s mark appears in the lower right corner for G. R. Hussung, Aurora, Indiana, likely George Riley Hussung (1860–1933), an active regional photographer in the early 20th century.
Unposted and without caption, the image retains a strong documentary quality. A standout example for collectors of early automobiles, transportation history, and Indiana photography. Ships in a protective sleeve.
Just a quick heads‑up: the photos reveal details far better than text alone, so they’re worth a close review.
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
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Real Photo Postcards (c. 1890–1945)
Browse Real PostcardsEarly 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.
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Pre-Linen Litho & Linen Postcards (c. 1907–1950)
Browse Pre-Linen Litho and Linen PostcardsPre‑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.
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Chrome Postcards (c.1939–)
Browse Chrome PostcardsChrome 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.