Postcards took a long time to grow into what we know and love today. It was only in the late 1800s and early 1900s that postcard manufacturing took off. It was simple for people to interact with one another through popular postcards. A common pastime these days is deltiology or the study of postcards. The history of the American postcard may be summarised as follows. It’s impossible to be sure of the exact dates for any given time since numerous sources provide dates that are just slightly off. Remember that postcards of a particular time might also be created in another period, although they weren’t manufactured in the same amount as other card kinds.
Pre Post Card Period (1848-1870)
Before the advent of postcards, some individuals sent cards that included postage. The term “sent cards” is used since these cards are not postcards. Envelopes with images were made during this time, and some believe that postcards are the direct heirs of these envelopes. We do not have picture envelopes from this era, but this one depicting the Smithsonian Institution Building is comparable to those from prior times. The US Congress approved a law on February 27, 1861, allowing the postal delivery of privately produced cards weighing no more than an ounce. John P. Charlton (also known as Carlton) trademarked the first American postcard in the same year.
Pioneer Period (12870-1898)
As of 1870, Hymen Lipman rebranded Charlton’s postcards as Lipman’s Postal Cards. Congress enacted a law authorizing the government’s creation of postal cards on June 8th, 1872. May 1, 1873, was when the first government-produced postcard was printed. A message might be written on one side of the postcar2d, while the other includes the receiver’s address. The word “Postal Card” was reserved for government-issued postcards by legislation. Private publishers were still permitted to manufacture postcards, but these were more costly to deliver than the government-produced cards.
As of 1870, Hymen Lipman rebranded Charlton’s postcards as Lipman’s Postal Cards. Congress enacted a law authorizing the government’s creation of postal cards on June 8th, 1872. May 1, 1873, was when the first government-produced postcard was printed. A message might be written on one side of the postcard, while the other includes the receiver’s address. The word “Postal Card” was reserved for government-issued postcards by legislation. Private publishers were still permitted to manufacture postcards, but these were more costly to deliver than the government-produced cards.
Private Mailing card Period (1898-1901)
Private printing enterprises were allowed to make postcards with the words “Private Mailing Card, Authorized by Legislation of Congress of May 19, 1898” by an act enacted by Congress on May 19, 1898. Sending private postcards now costs the same as mailing government postcards: one cent. A “Private Mailing Card” distinguishes a privately produced card from an a2-issued card. On the address side of the private mailing cards, the phrases “This side is strictly for the Address” or subtle variants of this phrase indicated that messages were not permitted. They might write a message on the front of a postcard that did not have a picture. If the front of the card included a picture, a tiny space was left for a message on the card’s front. The word “Postal Card—Carte Postale” appeared on many private postal cards, such as the Castle postcard seen below, which signified that They could send it internationally.
Postcard Period (1901-1907)
Order No. 1447 from December 1901, the postmaster-general of the United States Postal Service, permitted the use of the phrase “Post Card” instead of the lengthier “Private Mailing Card.” Private printers might now omit the Private Mailing Card Act of 1898. However, the address side of postcards remained a no-message zone. The front of most postcards contained graphics by this time, obliterating the message area. The Undivided Back Period is also known as the Postcard Period because of the lack of message space on the address side of postcards.
Divided Back Period (1907-1915)
In 1907, the address side of postcards underwent a significant transformation. UPC (United Postal Union) legislation led this shift in policy. October 1, 1907, was the date set by the convention for the introduction of messages on the left half of the address side of postal cards issued by member states. After March 1, 1907, the Universal Postal Congress ruled that government-produced cards in the United States might have statements on the address side. 2 When the Union issued its order on March 1, 1907, Congress established a law enabling private-produced postcards to include messages on the left side of the card’s back. To ensure that private-produced postcards had the same rights as those sent in international mail, Postmaster General Order No. 146 was published the next day. Government-produced postcards may now include messages on the left half of the address side of the card thanks to Postmaster-General Order No. 539, which was published on June 13th, 1907. As a result of these modifications to postcard backs, the Divided Back Period, which lasted from 1907 to 1915, was born. Since postcards were so widely used during the Divided Back Period, it’s also known as the “Golden Age of Postcards.” During the Divided Back time and the White Border period, the “actual picture” postcard became popular and widely distributed. They used first-generation “postcard cameras” from Kodak to create first-generation “real picture” postcards. Photographs taken with the postcard camera would be printed as postcard negatives, complete with a split back and a postage slot.
White Border Period (1915-1930)
In the early days of postcard printing, German printers dominated. The majority of US postcards were printed in the United States after the outbreak of World War I. The “Golden Age” of postcards ended as American printers couldn’t produce postcards of the same quality as German printers; therefore, consumers lost interest in collecting them. A white border surrounds a picture saved printers ink during this period, which they coined the era. White Border era postcards also included an explanation of the artwork, which remained on the message side.
Linen Period (1930-1945)
As early as the 1930s, new printing techniques permitted printers to manufacture postcards that seemed to be printed on linen rather than paper. Curt Teich & Co. was the most prominent printer of this era, printing its first linen card in 1931 and making its postcards popular all over the globe. They could color the pictures more vividly and quickly because of Teich’s procedure, which employed more vital dyes. They kept the white border on most postcards, but others were printed to the edge. The reverse of the card was traditionally separated and printed with additional information about the picture. Postcards made with photochrom (or photochrom)4 film were the first to replace linen-based cards in 1939. However, linen cards remained in production for more than a decade following the introduction of photochrom postcards.
Photocrome Period (1945-Present)
In 1939, the Union Oil Company started selling modern photochrom-style postcards in its western locations. Postcard production slowed during World War II due to a lack of supplies, but they dominated the market following the war. Colour photochrom postcards include graphics that closely resemble photos since they are printed in full color. Most of us are acquainted with photochrom postcards. The popularity of postcards began to wane in the 1990s with the rise of electronic cards and email. As a result, postcards are now more often bought for keepsakes than as a means of communication.
150th Aniversary
Postcard created a global effort to mark the 150th anniversary. People shared their excitement for postcards from all around the globe by entering a contest, which resulted in a flood of entries full of insightful and loving sentiments. From October through November, They displayed postcards from across the world in Bern’s Universal Postal Union headquarters. Postcrossing’s blog has further information on the show. A variety of postcard-related activities and projects were organized by postal service providers, museums, libraries, and even schools to commemorate the occasion.
The following are only a few examples
- There have been 58 gatherings.
- Exhibition of 11 postcards.
- An eight-mark canceling procedure.
- There were a total of eight sessions.
- A total of six lectures.
- The postal service produced four commemorative postage stamps.
- A total of three guided tours.
- Two stamps in the mail.
History Value
Postcards capture natural and artificial landscapes, such as structures, gardens, parks, cemeteries, and other tourist attractions. When there were few photos in the newspapers, they showed society. Postcards were an easy method for the general people to contact their loved ones, and they didn’t involve a lot of time or effort. A postcard photographer was always on hand to capture important events on film (including celebrations, disasters, political movements, and even wars). In addition to focusing on everyday topics like popular culture, fashion, and the likes, they also highlight transportation, sports, religion, and advertising. They used cards to communicate news of death and birth, as well as retail purchases and career opportunities, to friends and family members.
Postcards are a vital primary source for history, preservation, and genealogy researchers. They provide light on both the material and social conditions of the historical period. They changed communication during their time, as social media does now. Communication scholars will note how media are adopted, then adapted, and finally discarded. Researchers have used postcards to explore anything from theatre to race relations to war.
The history of postcards are started so long ago and it is getting changed year by year. And now it is so revoluted that nobody needs to go anywhere. Sending PostCards is so easy that no need for pen and paper. Just Visit www.postpatra.com and select from predesign or create your own design or as simple as upload your ready design. PostPatra will print – pack and delivers anywhere in the world and it is so cheap.
