What is considered the first official postcard as we know them today was a hand-painted design on a card that was created by writer Theodore Hook in London in 1840; he mailed the card to himself, using a black penny stamp. These early 1920s erotic postcards originated in France, like the majority of similar sexually-charged postcards of the era. It shows the history of how and why people mailed things, mailing preferences, innovations in printing images, and even in international laws. Postcard history begins in the latter half of the 19th century. They use general features of the card to assign it to a period. This has made postcards that went to the Ottoman Empire with these images before the ban highly valuable on the collectors market. History of Christmas Cards #4 Kansas City Is the Home of Hallmark. Made in USA. Lipman sold postcards with decorated borders, but no images, and labeled them “Lipman’s postal card.”. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. In the United States, all cards of this sort were known as "French Postcards," no matter where they originated. Designers were hampered by the rule forbidding correspondence on the side that carried the address. But postcard-to-website marketing is one of the most efficient, popular and lucrative strategies today. Walt Disney’s: Tomorrowland: A Journey Through History, Joe Fowler: The Man Behind Disneyland Magic. The size and design of the card, the printing technology and paper used, and the wording of the text that appears on the card all contribute clues that help date individual cards: Post card variety pack depicting United States travel sites and American theme postcards. The British buff and violet cards, imprinted with the halfpenny stamp, were issued in October 1870 and sold 76 million in the first year. The history of postcards presented on the linked pages is broken into seven periods; each representing a time influenced by a very particular set of surrounding circumstances that enabled it to produce its own distinguishable type of cards. The address had to go on the back of the card. Until the middle of the 19 th century, people around the world mailed messages to each other via the privacy of sealed letters. Post card variety pack with trivia and fun fact theme postcards. Later that same year, pre-stamped postcards, called “penny postcards” were introduced to the market by U.S. Post Master John Creswell. The first producer of them was John P. Charlton in Philadelphia, who obtained a patent on his postcard design. The business now has sales of $3.7 billion. While picture postcards became popular in a wide variety of places during this time, a particular type of picture postcard from this era was distinguished from the others by being called “French postcards.”. The direct ancestor of the picture postcard seems to be the envelopes printed with pictures on them. Made in USA. Of course, there are novelty exceptions to the shape and material with postcards, but the standard postcard type remains the same. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Postcard History is a free online magazine dedicated to vintage and historic picture postcards and the many stories associated with them.. We feature richly illustrated articles designed to both inform and entertain postcard collectors and history buffs. While people had been designing images of their own on postcards for a while, the first postcard sold with a commercially printed image on it was made in France in 1870, by Leon Besnardeau at Camp Conlie. Lynching, a form of violence in which a mob, under the pretext of administering justice without trial, executes a presumed offender, often after inflicting torture. The first images on these picture postcards were of the Interstate Industrial Exposition of Chicago. Postcards Bulk – 40-Pack Assorted Postcards, Postcards Variety Pack, 40 Unique Designs, 4 x 6 Inches 4.7 out of 5 stars 592. Cards with pictures of the Eiffel Towerin 1889 & 1890 gave the … Though we are used to seeing them practically everywhere these days, from every souvenir shop in the world to card stores to museum gift shops, and even at the grocery store, postcards are a relatively recent invention. The first American picture postcard was designed in 1873 by the Morgan Envelope Factory, located in Springfield, Massachusetts. Charlton later sold the rights to his patent to Hyman Lipman. A century and more of postcards . The first government-issued cards were the straw-coloured Austrian Korrespondenz Karte (with a two-kreuzer stamp included) issued in October 1869. The history of postcard production can be divided into eras. Check out our history of postcards selection for the very best in unique or custom, handmade pieces from our shops. This rule was waived in Britain in 1897, in France in 1903, in Germany in 1905, and in the U.S. in 1907. However, cards not issued by the Post Office were not allowed to be called “postcards” just yet. Here is the history of the postcard. A couple of years ago Visit Fylde Coast … The History of Maine's Small Towns, Captured in Postcards That might sound strange, but postcards were a big deal in the early 1900s, and at the time, new technology allowed an army of camera-toting salesmen to turn them into a good living as well as, later, a historical archive. While people embraced the new postcard with enthusiasm, as it allowed them to write quick notes to friends and family, without having to take the time to sit and write an entire letter when they did not have a letter’s worth of things to say, there were some legal issues involved with sending them, once picture postcards became popular. There are novelty exceptions, such as wooden postcards, copper postcards sold in the Copper Country of the U.S. state of Michigan, and coconut "postcards" from tropical islands. Until 1907, any postcard made by any person or company had to be made so that the purchaser could only write on the front of the card. The first government-issued cards were the straw-colored Austrian Korrespondenz Karte (with a two-kreuzer stamp) issued in October 1869. There are postcards from that time period showing such historic things as the brand new Eiffel Tower. The oldest one, and thus, what is believed to be the first, was sent in 1840 in England. We also provide the most comprehensive listing of forthcoming shows around. The introduction of postcards and any changes that occurred with vintage postcards was regulated by law. Sarah Wildeboer of the Donald McGill Museum on the Isle of Wight explains: 'McGill's postcards were hugely popular in the mid-20th century, with some designs selling millions. They consisted of a white border line around the picture. Things were changing in terms of the appearance of postcards. The postcard remains an important item of stationery trade. Postcard, a card for transmitting a message that can be mailed without an envelope. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... Postcard image of the Travel Building at the Century of Progress Exposition, Chicago, 1933–34. The first German card appeared in 1874. Artists who designed postcards at the beginning of the 20th century included Alphonse Mucha, Phil May, and Louis Wain. They had to be labeled as “souvenir cards” or “private mailing cards.” This rule was revoked in 1901, and anyone could call their mailing card product a postcard. The direct ancestor seems to be the envelopes printed with pictures on them. Then later came the linen postcards thanks to technology allowing printing on linen During this time, humor was quite common in postcards with people sending funny postcards, some even for world war 2. In 1910 a postcard seller, Joyce Clyde Hall founded the huge greetings card company, Hallmark. The British post office began issuing postcards without images in 1870, and included a stamp in the design, so buying additional postage was not necessary; the price of the stamp was built into the cost of the postcard. Copies of all these books can be freely consulted from open shelves at the Explore History Centre at IWM London. It shows the history of how and why people mailed things, mailing preferences, innovations in printing images, and even in international laws. TheHeligoland card of 1889 is considered the first multi-colored card ever printed. A BRIEF HISTORY OF The POSTCARD 1 (Postcard Terminology) Pre-Postcard Era, 1840 – 1869. Germany, Switzerland, and Great Britain followed Austria’s example in supplying postcards through the post offices. Postcard, a card for transmitting a message that can be mailed without an envelope. Saucy postcard disapproved by Blackpool Postcard Censorship Board. $9.99. Most postcards are instantly recognizable because of their rectangular shape and thick card stock paper, which is made for writing and mailing something without an envelope. Postcard collecting information. Collecting picture postcards subsequently became a popular hobby. Lipman. These postcards bore an engraving of the battlefield, with stacked arms, around a space for the address. There were originally two sizes of card offered, but the larger one was found to be too challenging to handle by postal workers and was soon discontinued. 4.7 out of 5 stars 362. Omissions? Collecting picture postcards was an immensely popular hobby in the first decade of the 20th century. The smaller card came into favor. In issuing official postcards, England was not far behind the United States. The History of Postcards Pre-Postcard Era, 1840 - 1869 Due to government postal regulations, postcards were a long time in developing. There is even discipline of collecting and studying postcards, known as deltiology. Navigate parenthood with the help of the Raising Curious Learners podcast. A postcard or post card is a piece of thick paper or thin cardboard, typically rectangular, intended for writing and mailing without an envelope.Non-rectangular shapes may also be used but are rare. The modern postcard—image on the front with a split back for both address and message—came about in 1907 through the work of the Universal Postal Union, a special agency of the United Nations which coordinates postal policies among member nations. It is believed he created and mailed the card as a joke to the post office, as the design he painted on it was a caricature of postal workers in a post office. Photo: Donald McGill Museum. Dan Robertson is the Curator of Local History & Archaeology at the Royal Pavilion & Museums in Brighton. In the United States John P. Charlton of Philadelphia obtained a copyright for privately printed cards decorated with a border pattern in 1861; the copyright later passed to M.L. Corrections? He started the business in Kansas, Missouri with two boxes of postcards. These new picture postcards, with images of all kinds of things, became more popular over Europe and the United States in the 1880s. The first postcard sent as a souvenir in the United States was sent in 1893, with images on it to advertise the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The postal services in the areas occupied by Germany and Austria were absorbed into those countries' postal services. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). Postcards’ Golden Age. The Golden Age of Postcards as defined here actually spans two sections dating from 1898 to 1913. It was a handmade card, like its British predecessor. Twenty years later, in 1921, the population of the Longreach Shire was 4,260. The history of the postcard is an oft-overlooked, but intriguing thing. The first advertising card appeared in 1872 in England. Below are some interesting facts that you might not have ever heard before about the history of postcards. Postcard depicting the dirigible of Brazilian aviator Alberto Santos-Dumont circling the Eiffel Tower in Paris, October 19, 1901. In the '20s, the most commonly traded images contained deep plunging necklines, exposed garters, and panty peeks. Inspirational and Motivational Postcards in" Reto Style" Set of 30 Postcards. Various claims to the invention of the picture postcard have been made. The scroll was topped by an image of the arms of the Duchy of Brittany. The three partitions of Poland in 1772, 1793 and 1795 saw the independent nation of Poland disappear. This makes it fairly easy to use postcard history to determine a vintage postcard’s date. In these early years Longreach grew and developed rapidly. The major eras in American Postcard History: Postcard Pre-History and Lipman Postal Cards […] Celebrate National Postcard Week (May 7-13) by learning fun facts about postcards, compliments of Modern Postcard, the printer of our membership magazine FLASH. This is because picture postcards were sometimes sent across national borders, and the nations to which the cards were sent sometimes had differing laws from the countries where the cards originated, concerning what images could be printed on them. Here is the history of the postcard. At first coloured by hand, colour printing of photographs was adopted by Edwin Bamforth, whose “song and hymn” cards became very popular during World War I. 5. Between 1916 and1930, white border postcards were common. The type of postcard can help the collector determine the approximate age of an old postcard. Societies and journals dealing with postcards existed in many countries, a trend that continued into the 21st century. Prior to postcards came the lithograph print, woodcuts and broadsides. Donald McGill was king of the saucy postcard synonymous with the British seaside. For Archives Awareness Week, co-op student Nadia put together this short video, detailing the history of postcards. In 1907, the rule was changed to allow a divided back of the card, where both writing and an address could go. Till the Boys Come Home: The Picture Postcards of the First World War,Holt, Toni and Valmai Holt London 1977: Macdonald and Jane's. Postcards began being commercially produced in the United States in 1861. In 1871, the first picture postcard that was used as a souvenir (and not as a letter home from soldiers) was sent from Vienna, Austria. Postcards are new age So many marketers like to think of postcards as passe, giving way to email and social marketing. Postcards bearing small engraved views appeared in the 1870s in Germany and Austria, but in Great Britain their publication was not possible until 1894, when the post office relinquished the right to charge the letter rate on any card other than the official one. An Illustrated History of the Embroidered Silk Postcard, Collins, Ian That year, Congress passed the Private Mailing Card Act, which allowed any private printer or publisher to issue their own postcards. Jeff from Ann Arbor explains the fascinating history and cultural significance of postcards in America. …inexpensive form of correspondence, the postcard, first introduced by Austria in 1869, was soon adopted by most other countries.…. Postcard commemorating British polar explorer Robert Falcon Scott. Ships from and sold by Z and Z Books. Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. Ever since postal services began in various parts of the world, there have been the occasional people who write messages on cards and send them without envelopes. It is said that the first postal card was recommended by Dr. Emanuel Herrmann, in 1869, and wasaccepted by the Hungarian government in the same year and then firstprinted card in 1870, a historical card, produced in association withthe Franco-German War. This item: A History of Postcards: A Pictorial Record from the Turn of the Century to the Present Day by Martin Willoughby Hardcover $15.95 Only 1 left in stock - order soon. The best known is perhaps that of Léon Besnardeau of Sillé-le-Guillaume, near Le Mans, France, who devised a card for Breton soldiers during the Franco-German War. This first postcard is now in the hands of a private collector, having sold at auction in 2002 for £31,750. The design of the card included a picture of piles of weapons on either side of a scroll. Photomontage (superimposition of photographs) and the combination of drawing and photography were introduced for postcards. Find a large selection of sizes and shapes for your postcard needs! The term is derived from the name of Charles Lynch (1736–96), who led an irregular court formed to punish loyalists during the … Over the years, I’ve found them incredibly valuable in sharing memories — places I've been and places my loved ones have sent cards from. Such facts are interesting, I agree, but I don't think they're predictive of any specific marketing campaign. The postcards provide evidence of public buildings, structures and establishments, roads and transport, and social norms, dating from this period of Longreach’s history. Check them out and if you know of any other good ones, let us know so we can add then to this list. $8.98. In fact, the Ottoman Empire banned the sale and importation of postcards with images of the Prophet Mohammed on them in 1900. New postcards will be added every week. These early examples were always handmade and not of standard size and material construction. But McGill's success attracted the attention of censors, and in 1954 he was prosecuted for obscenity. Until 1898 privately printed souvenir cards required a two-cent stamp (double the amount of the government card) if they bore a message. Postcard collectors divide the history of postcards into eras. The history of the postcard is an oft-overlooked, but intriguing thing. Postcard History. Get your hands on a customizable Facts About postcard from Zazzle. The grandsons of J.C. Hall now lead the Hallmark business. Great Britain was slower than its continental neighbours to latch on to the possibilities of picture postcards, and it was 1894 before the Post Office gave the green light to their private publication for … By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Postcard History: Disneyana: - Disneyland postcard serial numbers - Disneyland Postcards, a history - Visit to Yesterland, A - The Discontinued Disneyland - Walt Disney World: A History in Postcards Early Maximum Cards of Mexico: Stamps Copied from Real Photo Postcards, with information on photographers Rodolfo Mantel and Mauricio Yañez as well as the Exclusivos Julio company, from … In the United States, only the U.S. Post Office was allowed to print postcards until 1898. An old postcard collection from the late 19th and early 20th century. Download your fun facts poster by CLICKING HERE. This was a training camp for soldiers who were participating in the Franco-Prussian War. The postcard made its way to the United States in 1848, with the sending of a card depicting printed advertising. I enjoy collecting postcards as a way to inspire my own adventures. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/topic/postcard, Smithsonian Institution Archives - Postcard History. Each era was marked by a change in laws or printing methods associated with postcard production. Updates? The U.S. government issued postal cards with imprinted stamps in May 1873. Poczta Polska, the Polish postal service, was founded in 1558 and postal markings were first introduced in 1764.