A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope and at a lower rate than a letter. Robert Burns (25 January 1759 – 21 July 1796 (also known as Rabbie Burns, Scotland's favourite son, the Ploughman Poet, the Bard of Ayrshire Ayr (Inbhir Àir Mouth of the River Ayr) is a town and port situated on the Firth of Clyde, in south-west Scotland. Paper is thin material mainly used for writing upon printing upon or packaging Card stock (also called cover stock or pasteboard) is a paper stock that is thicker and more durable than normal writing or printing paper but thinner and more flexible An envelope is a Packaging product usually made of flat planar material such as Paper or cardboard and designed to contain a flat object which in a postal-service A letter is a Written Message from one person to another Letters especially a regular exchange between two persons (sometimes called Pen pals Stamp collectors distinguish between postcards (which require a stamp) and postal cards (which have the postage pre-printed on them). Stamp collecting is the Collecting of Postage stamps and related objects such as covers (envelopes or packages with stamps on them A postage stamp is an adhesive paper evidence of pre-paying a fee for postal services While a postcard is usually printed by a private company, individual or organization, a postal card is issued by the relevant postal authority. Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also The United States Postal Service defines a postcard as: rectangular, at least 3-½ inches high x 5 inches long x . 007 inch thick and no more than 4-¼ inches high x 6 inches long x . 016 inches thick;[1] (in metric; 12. 7 cm x 8. 9 cm) however, some postcards have deviated from this (for example, shaped postcards).
The study and collecting of postcards is termed deltiology. Deltiology (from Greek grc δελτίον deltion, diminuitive of grc δέλτος deltos, "writing tablet letter" and grc -λογία
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Brief history of postcards in the United States
John P. Pikes Peak (originally Pike's Peak, see below) is a Mountain in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains, west of Colorado Springs Charlton of Philadelphia patented the postcard in 1861, selling the rights to H. Philadelphia (ˌfɪləˈdɛlfiə L. Lipman, whose postcards, complete with a decorated border, were labeled "Lipman's postal card. " Nine years later European countries were also producing postcards.
The United States Postal Service began issuing pre-stamped postal cards in 1873. The postal cards came about because the public was looking for an easier way to send quick notes. The USPS was the only establishment allowed to print postcards, and it held its monopoly until May 19, 1898, when Congress passed the Private Mailing Card Act which allowed private publishers and printers to produce postcards.
Initially, the United States government prohibited private companies from calling their cards “postcards,” so they were known as “souvenir cards. ” Although this prohibition was rescinded in 1901, it was not until 1908 that people were permitted to write on the address side of a postcard.
The first postcard in the United States was created in 1893 to advertise the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The World's Columbian Exposition (also called The Chicago World's Fair) a World's Fair, was held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary Chicago (ʃɪˈkɑːgoʊ is the largest City by population in the state of Illinois and the American Midwest of the United States. Shortly thereafter the United States government, via the United States Postal Service, allowed printers to publish a 1-cent postcard (the "Penny Postcard"). The federal government of the United States is the central United States Governmental body established by the United States Constitution. A correspondent's writing was allowed only on the front side of these cards.
Postcards, in the form of government postal cards and privately printed souvenir cards, became very popular as a result of the Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, after postcards featuring buildings were distributed at the fair. Year 1893 ( MDCCCXCIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common In 1908, more than 677 million postcards were mailed.
1901 brought cards with the word "Post Card" printed on the reverse (the side without the picture). Year 1901 ( MCMI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting Written messages were still restricted to the front side, with the entire back dedicated to the address. This "undivided back" is what gives this postcard era its name.
The "divided back" card, with space for a message on the address side, came into use in the United States in 1907. Year 1907 ( MCMVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year The back is divided into two sections, the left section being used for the message and the right for the address. Thus began the Golden Age of American postcards, which lasted until about 1915, when World War I blocked the import of the fine German-printed cards. Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.
The "white border" era, named for obvious reasons, lasted from about 1916 to 1930. Background and proposal See also Whaleback The history of the Columbus is linked with that of the whalebacks an innovative but not widely accepted ship Year 1916 ( MCMXVI) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year Year 1930 ( MCMXXX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display 1930 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The "linen card" era lasted from about 1931 to the early 1950's, when cards were primarily printed on papers with a textured surface similar to linen cloth. Year 1931 ( MCMXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1931 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The last and current postcard era, which began about 1939, is the "chrome" era, however these types of cards didn't begin to dominate until about 1950. Year 1939 ( MCMXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The images on these cards are generally based on colored photographs, and are readily identified by the glossy appearance given by the paper's coating. A photograph (often shortened to photo) is an Image created by Light falling on a light-sensitive surface usually Photographic film or an electronic
In France, erotic postcards appeared in 1910.
In 1973 the British Post Office introduced a new type of card, PHQ Cards, these have since become a popular collecting area, especially when they have the appropriate stamp affixed and a First day of issue postmark obtained. PHQ Cards are Postcards depicting the design of a Commemorative stamp issued by the British Post Office. The Hobby of collecting includes seeking locating acquiring organizing cataloging displaying storing and maintaining whatever items are of interest to the individual collector The first day of issue is the day on which a Postage stamp, Postal card or Stamped envelope is put on sale within the country or territory of the A postmark is a Postal marking made on a letter, Package, Postcard or the like indicating
British seaside postcards
In 1894, British publishers were given permission by the Royal Mail to manufacture and distribute picture postcards, which could be sent through the post. Year 1894 ( MDCCCXCIV) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Royal Mail is the national postal service of the United Kingdom. The first UK postcards were produced by printing firm Stewarts of Edinburgh and early postcards were pictures of famous landmarks, scenic views, photographs or drawings of celebrities and so on. With steam locomotives providing fast and affordable travel, the seaside became a popular tourist destination, and generated its own souvenir-industry: the picture postcard was, and is, an essential staple of this industry. A steam locomotive is a Locomotive powered by Steam. The term usually refers to its use on Railways but can also refer to a "road locomotive" A seaside resort is a Resort located on the Coast. Where a Beach is the primary focus for Tourists it may be called a beach resort
In the early 1930s, cartoon-style saucy postcards became widespread, and at the peak of their popularity the sale of saucy postcards reached a massive 16 million a year. Donald Fraser Gould McGill, ( January 28 1875 &ndash October 13 1962) was an English graphic artist whose name has become synonymous The 1930s were described as an abrupt shift to more radical and conservative lifestyles as countries were struggling to find a solution to the Great Depression. They were often bawdy in nature, making use of innuendo and double entendres and traditionally featured stereotypical characters such as vicars, large ladies and put-upon husbands, in the same vein as the Carry On films. An innuendo (also called insinuation) is a remark or question typically disparaging that works obliquely by Allusion. Not to be confused with Puns which employ multiple phrases A double entendre is a Figure of speech similar to the Pun, in A stereotype (from Greek: stereo + týpos = "solid impression" is a generalized perception of first impressions behaviors presumed by a group The Carry On films were a long-running series of low-budget British comedy films directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. In the early 1950s, the newly elected Conservative government were concerned at the apparent deterioration of morals in Britain and decided on a crackdown on these postcards. The 1950s Decade refers to the years of 1950 to 1959 inclusive The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is a Political party in the United Kingdom. The main target on their hit list was the renowned postcard artist Donald McGill. Donald Fraser Gould McGill, ( January 28 1875 &ndash October 13 1962) was an English graphic artist whose name has become synonymous In the more liberal 1960s, the saucy postcard was revived and became to be considered, by some, as an art form. The 1960s decade refers to the years from the beginning of 1960 to the end of 1969 This helped its popularity and once again they became an institution. However, during the 1970s and 1980s, the quality of the artwork and humour started to deteriorate and, with changing attitudes towards the cards' content, the demise of the saucy postcard occurred. This article is about the Decade 1970-1979 For the Year 1970 see 1970. The 1980s was the decade spanning from January 1 1980 to December 31 1989. Original postcards are now highly sought after, and rare examples can command high prices at auction. The best-known saucy seaside postcards were created by a publishing company called Bamforths, based in the town of Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England. Bamforth & Co were a publishing film and illustration company based in Holmfirth, West Yorkshire, England. Holmfirth is a small town located on the A6024 Woodhead Road in the Holme Valley, within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, West Yorkshire, West Yorkshire is a Metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Despite the decline in popularity of postcards that are overtly 'saucy', postcards continue to be a significant economic and cultural aspect of British seaside tourism. Sold by newsagents and street vendors, as well as by specialist souvenir shops, modern seaside postcards often feature multiple depictions of the resort in unusually favourable weather conditions. A newsagent ( British English) newsagency ( Australian English) or newsstand ( American English) is often a small business that sells The use of saturated colour, and a general departure from realism, have made the postcards of the later twentieth century become collected and admired as kitsch. Realism in the Visual arts and Literature is the depiction of subjects as they appear in Everyday life, without embellishment or interpretation Kitsch /kɪtʃ/ is a term of German or Yiddish origin that has been used to categorize art that is considered an inferior tasteless copy of an existing Such cards are also respected as important documents of social history, and have been influential on the work of Martin Parr. Social history is an area of historical study considered by some to be a Social science that attempts to view historical evidence from the point of view of developing Martin Parr (born 23 May 1952 in Epsom, Surrey) is a British documentary Photographer, Photojournalist
Early Controversy
The initial appearance of picture postcards (and the enthusiasm with which the new medium was embraced) raised some legal issues that can be seen as precursors to later controversies over the internet. Hemsby is a Village, Civil parish and Seaside resort in the English County of Norfolk. Norfolk (ˈnɔrfək is a low-lying county in East Anglia, England, United Kingdom. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located The Internet is a global system of interconnected Computer networks Picture postcards allowed and encouraged many individuals to send images across national borders, and the legal availability of a postcard image in one country did not guarantee that the card would be considered "proper" in the destination country, or in the intermediate countries that the card would have to pass through. Some countries might refuse to handle postcards containing sexual references (in seaside postcards) or images of full or partial nudity (for instance, in images of classical statuary or paintings).
In response to this new phenomenon, the Ottoman Empire banned the sale or importation of some materials relating to the Islamic prophet Muhammad in 1900. The Ottoman Empire (1299–1923 ( Old Ottoman Turkish: دولتْ علیّه عثمانیّه Devlet-i Âliye-yi Osmâniyye, Late Ottoman and Modern Turkish Muslims regard as Prophets of Islam ( Arabic: نبي) those non-divine humans chosen by Allah as Prophets IMPORTANT PLEASE READ ##### For all questions relating to the addition of (pbuh peace be upon him or other honorifics Affected postcards that were successfully sent through the OE before this date (and are postmarked accordingly) have a high rarity value and are considered valuable by collectors.
Glossary of postcard terms
Applique - A term used to describe a postcard which has some form of cloth, metal or other embelishment attached to it.
Art Deco - Artistic style of the 1920s, recognisable by its symmetrical designs and straight lines.
Art Nouveau - Artistic style of the turn of the century, characterised by flowing lines and flowery symbols, yet often depicting impressionist more than representational art.
Bas Relief - Postcards with a heavily raised surface, giving a papier-mache appearance.
Composites - A number of individual cards, that when placed together in a group, form a larger picture.
Court Cards - The official size for British postcards between 1894-1899, measuring 115mm x 89mm. Court card or court sized card was the name given to a size of picture postcard, mainly used in the United Kingdom, which were approximately 4
Divided Back - Postcards with a back divided into two sections, one for the message, the other for the address. British cards were first divided in 1902 and American cards in 1907.
Early - A term loosely used to describe any card issued before the Divided Back was introduced.
Embossed - Postcards with a raised surface.
Hold-to-Light- Also referred to as 'HTL', postcards often of a night time scene with cut out areas to show the light.
Intermediate Size - The link between Court Cards and Standard Size, measuring 130mm x 80mm.
Kaleodoscopes - Postcards with a rotating wheel that reveals a myriad of colours when turned.
Midget Postcards - Novelty cards of the size 90mm x 70mm.
Novelty - Any postcard which deviates in any way from the norm. Cards which do something, or have articles attached to them, or are printed in an unusual size or on strange materials. An example is cards made of leather
Oilette - A trade name used by Raphael Tuck to describe postcards reproduced from original paintings.
Real Photographic - Abbreviated to 'RP'. Used to describe postcards produced by a photographic rather than a printing process.
Reward Cards - Cards that were given away to school children for good work.
Standard Size - Introduced in Britain in November 1899, measuring 140mm x 89mm.
Topographical - A term used to describe postcards showing street scenes and general views.
Undivided Back - Describes postcards with a plain back where all of this space was used for the address. This is a term often used to describe Early cards, although undivided were still in common use up until 1907.
Vignette - Usually found on undivided back cards, consisting of a design which does not occupy the whole of the picture side. Vignettes may be anything from a small sketch in one corner of the card, to a design cover three quarters of the card. The purpose is to leave some space for the message to be written, as the entire reverse of the card could only be used for the address.
Write-Away - Used to describe a card with the opening line of a sentence, which the sender would then complete. Often found on early comic cards.
See also
- Greeting card
- e-card
- Postcrossing
- Real photo postcard
- Advertising postcard
- Francis Frith
- PHQ Cards
- James Valentine
- PostSecret
- Mail Art
External links
- Postcrossing Postcards exchange project from all over the world
- CardCow Largest Online Postcard Database of US Views
- Postcardy.com -- All about U. A greeting card is an illustrated folded card featuring an expression of friendship or other sentiment An e-card is similar to a Postcard or Greeting card, with the primary difference being that it is created using Digital media instead of paper or other Postcrossing is a Project, inspired by Bookcrossing, designed to allow people to receive Postcards from all over the world In 1903 Kodak introduced the No 3A Folding Pocket Kodak The camera designed for postcard-size film allowed the general public to take photographs and have them printed on Postcard An advertising postcard is a postcard used for Advertising purposes (as opposed to Tourism and greeting Postcards) Francis Frith (also spelled Frances Frith) ( October 31, 1822 – February 25, 1898) was an English photographer of the Middle PHQ Cards are Postcards depicting the design of a Commemorative stamp issued by the British Post Office. James Valentine was a well-known Photographer of Dundee, Scotland. PostSecret is an ongoing community Mail art project in which people mail their secrets anonymously on one side of a homemade Postcard. Mail art is Art which uses the Postal system as a medium The term mail art can refer to an individual message the medium through which it is sent or S. postcards plus links to other postcard collector websites.
- The Postcard Traders association -- Represents professionals within the UK postcard industry.
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