The Social Democratic Party has its origins in the General German Workers' Association, founded in 1863, and the Social Democratic Workers' Party, founded in 1869. The two groups merged in 1875 to create the Socialist Workers' Party of Germany [de] (German: Sozialistische Arbeiterpartei Deutschlands). From 1878 to 1890, the Anti-Socialist Laws banned any group that aimed at spreading socialist principles, but the party still gained support in elections. In 1890, when the ban was lifted, the party adopted its current name. The SPD was the largest Marxist party in Europe and consistently the most popular party in German federal elections from 1890 onward, although it was surpassed by other parties in terms of seats won in the Reichstag due to the electoral system.In the years leading up to World War I, the SPD remained radical in principle, but moderate in reality. According to Roger Eatwell and Anthony Wright, the SPD became a party of reform, with social democracy representing "a party that strives after the socialist transformation of society by the means of democratic and economic reforms". They emphasise this development as central to understanding 20th-century social democracy, of which the SPD was a major influence. In the 1912 federal election, the SPD won 34.8 per cent of votes and became the largest party in the Reichstag with 110 seats, although it was still excluded from government.
The large scans below offer the best description of the condition of the postcards offered. I will try to describe any defects that might not be apparent on the large scans I provide. Right-click the photos below in your computer browser to select "view image" in order to see a full-size image, and then bid with confidence.
A quick guide to the postcard grading standard we use: MINT: A perfect card just as it comes from the printing press. No marks, bends, or creases. No writing or postmarks. NEAR MINT (NM): Like mint but very light aging of very slight discoloration from being in an album for many years. Not as sharp or crisp. EXCELLENT (EX): Like mint in appearance with no bends or creases, or rounded or blunt corners. May be postally used or unused and with writing and postmark only on the address side. A clean, fresh card on the picture side. VERY GOOD (VG): Corners may be just a bit blunt or rounded. Almost undetectable crease or bend that does not detract from overall appearance of the picture side. May have writing or postally used on the address side. A very collectible card. GOOD (G): Corners may be noticeably blunt or rounded with noticeable slight bends or creases. May be postally used or have writing on address side. FAIR: Card is intact. Excess soil, stains, creases, writing, or cancellation may affect picture. POOR: Self-explanatory, sold as-is.
Orders over $10 will require package service with delivery confirmation. Additional purchases will be combined if bought same day, for one low shipping rate, if you follow the directions. Sales Tax may apply. Please read and accept my terms of sale below before you bid.
1) COMBINED SHIPPING/POSTAGE:
a. I happily combine shipping (where possible, sometimes it isn’t). eBay requires tracking on all orders now to protect my above standard seller status, and to prevent the misuse of missing information. So please don’t ask me to just “throw it in a regular envelope.”
b. If you haven't paid yet for multiple purchases, please wait for a combined invoice, which may take up to 24 hours to send you. Don't worry, it's not a race to see how fast you can pay.
c. If you must pay immediately, make sure all the items are on the same payment transaction (same order). I will then be able to combine shipping (if possible) and send you a partial refund for overpayment of postage. Some people make numerous multiple purchases with separate payments and look for a shipping discount. That will not happen, so please add your items to your cart, and when you are done looking at my stuff, buy it all at once. Thanks!
2) POSTAGE: All USPS postage rates are calculated using the most affordable (not the quickest) shipping class, based on a pre-sale estimated weight and size of the package. Sometimes multiple options are offered. If you want to upgrade to a quicker, more expensive postal class not shown, you must let me know BEFORE you pay. And all requests for special handling, extra packaging, etc. must be made prior to payment so that invoice can be adjusted.
3) INSURANCE: In the event of loss or damage on insured packages, buyer agrees to fulfill all requirements of the insurer in the processing of a claim, or forfeits their right to request a refund.
4) SALES TAX: Ebay has taken over all responsibility for sales tax collection for all states that require it. I have no control whatsoever over who pays sales tax, it is out of my hands. The same is true for all international taxes, duties and VAT. Please direct all questions/complaints to the good folks at Ebay.
5) INTERNATIONAL BUYERS: We no longer ship any merchandise (including postcards) via letter rate internationally. It is prohibited by the UPU (subject to seizure or return), and is also not trackable. International shipping is offered as a courtesy to those who can afford it, and is handled entirely through eBay. All Import duties, taxes, and charges are handled by eBay as well. I no longer ship directly, because of the excessive amount of “item not received” claims, resulting in my loss.
Most of my frugal international postcard buyers have a friend/relative in the USA to whom I can ship up to several postcards in a letter-rate tracked envelope (for about $1.00-1.50 at time of this listing), and will specify this shipping address prior to payment. If you do this, then that friend may forward the postcards in a prohibited letter rate envelope to you the buyer, and the shipping risk will be yours, not mine. Multiple purchases can also be combined when you ship to a USA recipient, but not otherwise. This is the way of the future on ebay, as more and more sellers move away from the risks of untracked international letter rate mail.
6) REPRODUCTION OF IMAGES: Seller is not selling the exclusive rights to reproduce images of the item offered. Buyer is of course free to reproduce as they wish, but seller retains and may exercise the right to reproduce any images of the item for any purpose before or after the sale, without permission from or compensation to the buyer.
7) LISTING DISCREPANCIES: If the Title, Description, and/or Photo on a listing do not match, for gosh sakes don't buy it. Mistakes happen. Let me know instead so I can fix the listing. If you do buy, the item described in the Title of the listing takes precedence over anything else. If you don't agree with this, I will consider it your request to cancel the transaction of the faulty listing.