Curt Teich Co. - Sent from the Past

Established in 1898, the Curt Teich Co. was best known for its wide range of advertising and postcards of North America. By the 1920s, it was producing so many postcards with borders that they became recognized as a type dubbed “White Border Cards,” creating an “era.” Later, Curt Teich’s innovations in this printing technique directly led to the production of what we now call “linens” by the early 1930s.

History

Curt Teich emigrated to Chicago in 1895. He had worked as a lithographer in Lobenstein, Germany. In 1898, he founded the Curt Teich Company, concentrating on newspaper and magazine printing. He was an early publisher of postcards, but he didn’t begin printing them himself until 1908.

The company, which operated until 1978, was renowned for its production of postcards featuring various subjects, including North American scenic views, landmarks, events, and advertising. By the 1920s, it was producing so many postcards with borders that they became recognized as a type dubbed “White Border Cards,” creating an “era.”

Their U.S. factories produced a vast quantity of cards, making them the leading printer in the industry. Curt Teich Company pioneered the use of offset lithography, leading to the development of the popular linen-type postcard. The company aided the war effort during World War II by printing many military maps.

In 1974, the Teich Company was sold to Regensteiner Publishers, but it continued printing Teich postcards until its closure in 1978. Curt Teich’s contributions significantly impacted the postcard industry, leaving behind a rich legacy of artistic and historical significance. The Teich Company continued to operate in the same building and continued printing Teich postcards until 1978 when the rights to the company name and processes were sold to the Irish company, John Hinde Ltd. Their California subsidiary now prints postcards under the name John Hinde Curteich, Inc.

C.T. Photochrom