POST CARDSa brief history & glossary Wolfgang Hastert
a postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper
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. ‌even in Russia:
United States: the custom of sending through the mail, at letter rate, a picture or blank card stock that held a message, began with a card postmarked in
December 1848 containing printed advertising
Postcards were made because people were looking for an easier way to send quick notes. ‌and for sending advertising
Postal Monopoly 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.
What is “proper”? The initial appearance of picture postcards (and the enthusiasm with which the new medium was embraced) raised some legal issues…
Picture postcards allowed individuals to send images across national borders 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.
a glossary of some terms AppliquĂŠ A postcard that has some form of cloth, metal or other embellishment attached to it. Artist Signed Postcards with artwork that has the artist's signature, and the art is often unique for postcards. Big Letter A postcard that shows the name of a place in very big letters that do not have pictures inside each letter
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 Django Fontina A postcard written to a stranger, typically as a means of disseminating poetry.
Postcardese The style of writing used on postcards; short sentences, jumping from one subject to another.
Real Photographic Abbreviated to "RP." Postcards produced by a photographic, rather than a printing, process. Reward Cards Cards that were given away to school children for good work.
Vignette Usually found on undivided back cards. Vignettes may be anything from a small sketch in one corner of the card, to a design cover three quarters of the card. Leaves some space for the message to be written. Write-Away A card with the opening line of a sentence, which the sender would then complete. Often found on early comic cards.
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