What's the copyright law on postcards from the early 1900's?

February 10, 2011 4:33 PM

Can I publish really old postcards in a book free and clear? What are the rules around doing this (i.e. are there copyright concerns? do they every expire?)
posted by joshuamcginnis to law & government (5 answers total)

How old is "early"?
posted by The Lamplighter at 4:45 PM on February 10, 2011

See title - early 1900's (pre-1920).
posted by joshuamcginnis at 4:47 PM on February 10, 2011

Use the Copyright Slider.

Not the last word on copyright law, but a useful tool nonetheless.
posted by gyusan at 5:05 PM on February 10, 2011 [1 favorite]

Are you in the US? If so basically, you're okay for anything pre-1923.
posted by the dief at 7:00 PM on February 10, 2011

Copyright applies for a “limited term”, and although the rules for that term are absurdly complex, anything published before 1923 is ok— it's in the public domain; nobody owns it. (Outside the US, rules are different.)
posted by hattifattener at 9:06 PM on February 10, 2011