A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope. In some places, it is possible to send them for a lower fee than for a letter. Stamp collectors distinguish between postcards (which require a stamp) and postal cards (which have the postage pre-printed on them). While a postcard is usually printed by a private company, individual or organization, a postal card is issued by the relevant postal authority. The United States Postal Service defines a postcard as: rectangular, at least 3½ inches high × 5 inches long × 0.007 inches thick and no more than 4¼ inches high × 6 inches long × 0.016 inches thick; (in metric; 12.7 cm × 8.9 cm). However, some postcards have deviated from this (for example, shaped postcards).
The study and collecting of postcards is termed deltiology .
Brief history of postcards in the United States
John P. Charlton of Philadelphia patented the postcard in 1861, selling the rights to H. 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 first country to actually use the post card was Turkey, in 1876.
The United States Post Office began issuing pre-stamped postal cards in 1873. The postcards were made because people were looking for an easier way to send quick notes. The Post Office 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 Although this prohibition was rescinded in 1901, it was not until 1908 that people were permitted to write on the address side of a postcard.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. Shortly thereafter the United States government, via the United States Post Office Department, allowed printers to publish a 1-cent postcard (the "Penny Postcard"). 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. 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). 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. 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.
The "white border" era, named for obvious reasons, lasted from about 1916 to 1930. The "linen card" era lasted from about 1931 to the early 1950s, when cards were primarily printed on papers with a textured surface similar to linen cloth. 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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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. 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. 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 main target on their hit list was the renowned postcard artist Donald McGill. In the more liberal 1960s, the saucy postcard was revived and became to be considered, by some, as an art form. 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. 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. 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. 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. Such cards are also respected as important documents of social history, and have been influential on the work of Martin Parr.
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. 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. 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
See also
- Advertising postcard
- Frances Brundage
Postcard Pricing - VerticalResponse
Pay-as-you-go postcard marketing. Pricing includes high-quality printing and USPS first-class mailing.
Postcard Pricing Tables
Customer Testimonial: "I did receive the package. Thank you so uch for your help in resolving this. I appreciate it tremendously! You should be receiving a new order from us by ...
POSTCARDMANIA PRICES
PostcardMania is a full-service postcard direct mail marketing company and the leader in innovation in the postcard direct mail marketing industry. The company's services include ...
Postcards, Postcard Printing, Personalised Photo Postcards
Fully-customisable messages with 1000’s of designs. Choose ... Standard Postcards start at £11.95 Oversized Postcards start at £19.95: Click Here for Complete Pricing
Cheep Cheep Postcards: Direct Mail Prices, Direct Mail Postcards ...
Direct Mail Prices at Cheep Cheep Postcards. Your source for direct mail postcards prices, direct mail pricing and direct marketing pricing
Postcards, Custom Postcard Printing, Postcard Templates, Design Your ...
Postcard Pricing: Details: Standard Postcards start at $9.95 Oversized Postcards start at $19.95 Click here for complete postcard pricing. •
Postcard Pricing - Direct Marketing, Direct Mail, On-demand Printing ...
ProspectsPLUS! specializes in full-service direct mail postcard marketing for real estate agents. We have marketing software products and on demand printing solutions for real ...
Amazon.com: Sports Postcard Price Guide: A Comprehensive Reference ...
Amazon.com: Sports Postcard Price Guide: A Comprehensive Reference (9781885940049): J. L. Mashburn, Emma Mashburn: Books
Amazon.com: The Artist-Signed Postcard Price Guide, Second Edition: A ...
Amazon.com: The Artist-Signed Postcard Price Guide, Second Edition: A Comprehensive Reference (9781885940117): J. L. Mashburn: Books
Cronin & Company - Postcards
Price: $15.60 ... Box of 50 postcards