Entrance To Michigan State Prison Jackson MI Smokestack Postcard

The Michigan State Prison in Jackson, Mich. was established in 1839 and, through late 19th century expansions, became one of the state's largest correctional complexes; those additions included a Second Empire-style administration block with a prominent tower and adjoining industrial buildings served by a tall smokestack, features that reflect the period's practice of large centralized institutions with on-site manufacturing and workshops.

Postcard Image

🖼️ Information on the Front of the Postcard

📝 In-Scene Text
Not visible

🏢 Publisher Information
207.388 (IK)

💬 Captions
Entrance to Michigan State Prison, Jackson, Mich.

📬 Information on the Back of the Postcard

Here is the analysis of the postcard back:

📮 Address
Not visible

📅 Postmark & Stamp
Not visible
Postmark location unclear

🏛️ Publisher & Postal Note
**Publisher:** The Valentine & Sons Publishing Co., Ltd., New York. Printed in Great Britain.
**Postal Note:** The card is titled "SOUVENIR POST CARD" at the top center, and features the standard divided back design with a designated stamp box in the top right, implying the left section is for the message and the right for the address.

📌 Context
This postcard is a blank "Souvenir Post Card" from The Valentine & Sons Publishing Co., Ltd. The company was a major publisher of postcards, art prints, and books, originating in Dundee, Scotland, in 1825. They expanded significantly, establishing a New York office, as indicated by the publisher's details on this card. The mention of "Printed in Great Britain" confirms its origin.

The design of the back, with its distinctive dividing line separating the message and address sections (a "divided back"), indicates that this postcard was produced after 1902 (when the divided back was introduced in the UK) or after 1907 (when it became legal in the US for messages to be written on the address side). Given the "New York" branch is mentioned, it's highly probable this card was intended for the American market and thus dates from 1907 or later, likely up through the 1920s or 1930s, when postcards of this style were common.

Since the postcard is completely blank – no address, message, stamp, or postmark – it was never sent through the mail. It is in an unused condition, offering no specific historical context about its journey or recipient, but rather about its potential era of production.

Note: Postcard information is read by AI and may contain errors. Please review images for accuracy.

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