A card for delivering a message that may be sent without the need of an envelope First published by a government was the straw-colored Austrian Korrespondenz Karten (which came with a two-kreuzer stamp) in October 1869, which were issued with a two-kreuzer stamp.
In the United States, in 1861, John P. Charlton of Philadelphia received a patent for privately manufactured cards that were ornamented with a border design; the copyright was eventually transferred to M.L. Lipman of New York. In May 1873, the United States government began issuing postal cards with imprinted stamps. Until 1898, privately manufactured souvenir cards that included a message were needed to be stamped with a two-cent stamp (twice the value of the government card).
In order to follow Austria’s lead, Germany, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom began distributing postcards via their postal systems. After being launched in October 1870 and selling 76 million copies in their first year, the British buff and violet cards, stamped with the halfpenny stamp, were withdrawn from the market. A number of different claims have been made as to who was the inventor of the picture postcard. It is possible that Léon Besnardeau of Sillé-le-Guillaume, near Le Mans in France, is the most well-known of these individuals, having designed a card for Breton troops during the Franco-German War. These postcards included an engraving of the battlefield, complete with stacked arms, around a blank spot for the recipient’s mailing address.
Cards with miniature engraved views first appeared in Germany and Austria in the 1870s, but it was not feasible for them to be published in the United Kingdom until 1894 when the post office abandoned its ability to charge the letter rate on any card other than the official one. The regulation prohibiting communication on the side of the envelope that held the address created difficulties for designers. This law was abolished in the United Kingdom in 1897, in France in 1903, in Germany in 1905, and in the United States of America in 1907.
Alphonse Mucha, Phil May, and Louis Wain were among the artists who created postcards around the beginning of the twentieth century. Cardboard postcards were the first to use photomontage (the superimposition of pictures), as well as the mix of sketching and photography. Following Edwin Bamforth’s success with “song and hymn” cards during World War I, who first colored images by hand, the technique of color printing of photographs was introduced.
During the first decade of the twentieth century, collecting picture postcards was a very popular pastime among the general public. Society and newspapers devoted to postcards developed in a number of nations, and this tendency persisted far into the twenty-first century. The postcard continues to be a popular item in the stationery industry.
#1 May’s unusual trip by post to Granny
We can all picture our mothers contemplating this as a possibility, can’t we? May Pierstorff’s parents, on the other hand, were not pleased with the price of a ticket for their 5-year-old daughter. That is the fare for human beings.
The 53 cent fee for shipping 50 pounds of chickens via the mail, on the other hand, seemed acceptable to them, and May was able to make the trip to her grandmother’s place dressed as a giant honorary chick. Her astute parents tied 53 cents worth of stamps on her, and she obediently rode in the postal compartment of the train with the other letters, parcels, and, presumably, chickens on the other side of the tracks. Although May was traveling with a relative who worked on Railway Mail trains, she was eventually turned over to postman Leonard Mochel, who brought her to her grandparents’ house in safety and without incident. You must realize that he is just carrying out his duties — there is nothing to see here. What grandmother had to say about the issue is only known to God.
Naturally, this practice did not last long and was ultimately outlawed in 1920 when it was declared unlawful. While this was happening, a handful of youngsters were really sent to their respective destinations. Madness!
#2 1/10 of the calorie in the USA
1/10 of a calorie is used by the glue on the back of a U.S postal stamp. One-tenth calorie, that’s right, only one-tenth. If you lick 20,000 of those nasty guys, you’ll have met your daily calorie consumption restriction.
Of course, this isn’t the healthiest option, but it is a viable one. Neither MyPostcard nor its affiliates approve this.
Funnily enough, owing to the use of starch-based glue, British stamps contain around 5.9 calories. In other words, if you’re hoping to lose a few pounds, you’d better stay away from the Royal Mail.
#3 Yummy Belgium Chocolate Stamps
If we are unable to prevent you from licking those stamps, we suggest that you at least taste some of the most delectable ones. Despite the fact that you may be a little late to the party. It was estimated that 500,000 stamps were produced in 2013, all of which smelled and tasted like chocolate. Three guesses as to who designed them.
Yes, of course, it’s Belgium – after all, who else has the audacity to be so certain of their chocolate abilities? It’s the country counterpart of a confident demeanor.
#4 The Only Floating Post Office in the World
It turns out that Michigan is a rather tiny state. We make an assumption. Because, after all, what other purpose could there possibly be for the Michigan post office to be located in the midst of a massive lake? However, it’s kind of cool, isn’t it? Along with delivering supplies to other boats and ships, it also serves as a floating post office with its own movable postcode.
As it turns out, the task is much riskier than you may expect. It was in 2001 that the captain and a member of his crew died when their boat was trapped in the wake of the MT Sidsel Knutsen. A considerably bigger vessel to which they had been carrying supplies. The other members of the crew were rescued, and the boat itself was eventually recovered and put back into operation.
#5 Teeny-Tiny records-stamps
Bhutan released these small miniature records-stamps in groups of seven in 1973, and they are still in use today. The Bhutanese national anthem, as well as other folk songs performed in both English and the country’s native language, Dzongkha, were among the melodies on the program. If you think these stamps are a step too far, you’re not alone in your opinion. The charming tiny recordings had been deemed gaudy for decades until being featured in a collector’s book. At which point they suddenly acquired substantial worth.
If we’ve completed the transaction for you, or if you’re an avid stamp collector, you may sell your item on eBay. Sets may be found for a little more than $300 on occasion, but the price continues to rise. Get these while they’re still available!
#6 Kitty-cats working as a postman
The question you may be asking yourself is “but… why?” We’re right there with you in every step. It was in the Belgian city of Liège in 1876 that a test was conducted in which 37 cats were driven to the countryside . With water-proof sacks fastened around their necks, with the expectation that they would find their way back home.
There are three aspects of this situation that will continue to perplex us indefinitely. The first is, of course, that someone truly believed. This was a valid notion that needed to be put to the test before it was abandoned. Second, it seems that more than one individual shared this opinion. And, finally, they picked cats out of all the other post-delivery critters that may be available to them. Cats! When it comes to cats, everybody who has ever met one knows that they are, at best, unpredictable. However, we anticipate that they were really endearing.
You won’t be shocked to learn that the experiment didn’t have a single birthday over its duration. Or, for that matter, any other kind of anniversary. Among the 37 special operations cats assigned to the role of post offices, only one arrived at its destination during the day and it did it in less than five hours! The others took a total of 24 hours.
Belgium has been hit with a second strike. I guess you can’t rule out the possibility of them trying anything fresh.
#7 Stamp Collection-a very Expensive Hobby!
Stamp collecting has previously been covered. And while we’re all for a little harmless fun and hobbies here and there, this specific instance seems to be taking things a little too far.
With a price of 9.5 million dollars, this 1-cent British Guiana stamp dates back to 1856. It is the world’s most valuable stamp, seems to be a little on the costly side. It was auctioned off in a Sotheby’s auction in 2014.
Because it was formerly owned by a Mr. John du Pont, who was convicted of murder, it is possible that the high price is due to the property’s… err… colorful past. It doesn’t matter how much money it’s worth since, in person, the stamp is rather dull and faded. So there’s no need to be too depressed if it’s a bit out of your price range.
#8 A Cave of Wonders
Ooooh, a cavern filled with marvels! Perhaps not quite as glitzy as something you’d see in Aladdin, but it’s still a great deal of money for what it is. The Stamp Fulfillment Center in Kansas City, Missouri, in the United States, has a total floor area of around five million square feet and employs over 1500 people.
The fact that it is thought to be about 270 million years old is astounding in and of itself, but the 400-600 million dollars worth of stamps that are kept inside at any one moment is even more impressive. The temperature of 72 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for preserving them.
#9 The Ultimate Stamp Licker
The Victorians were definitely preoccupied with the appearance of their faces and bodies. We believe this was due to the 1/10 of a calorie present in stamps, which we believe was the driving force for the creation of the… waits for it… Stamp Licker. Uh-huh. And the term couldn’t be clearer: the gadget was really used to lick and wet stamps, thus the name.
The people who possessed these goods must have received and sent a great deal of mail; we imagine them to be old-fashioned Kim Kardashians.
