The history of postcards
Digital collage by: Calan Stanley
How much can there possibly be to say about postcards? Before you scoff at us, let's get one thing straight: There is so much history and culture packed into the life​span of postcards that we're going to have trouble to contain it to just this article. While we may be biased with our special interest in recycled postcards, there's plenty to discover when you peel back the layers on this fascinating way of keeping in touch. Here's just a brief look at the wonderful world of postcards.
Early days
The first postcard in American was copyrighted in 1861, and from here popularity soared. They made their way to Australia in 1875, according to the Powerhouse Museum, when the New South Wales Government introduced the nation's very first postcards. They weren't exactly pictorial postcards, however - these more decorative cards popped up in the late 1800s. Government issue pictorial cards had pre-printed stamps on the address side, and in 1895 the Victorian Government allowed for privately printed postcards to be introduced.
In 1905 the Australian Postal Service ushered in the modern picture postcard format most of us are familiar with, with cards divided down the back to allow both the address and message to be written on this side, with the front consisting entirely of an image. This triggered a wave of postcard collection in Australia.
As postal prices rose and it became cheaper to telephone people, the use of postcards declined somewhat, however they have remained popular among collectors and as an easy and effective way of communicating key messages. Technological advancements saw plenty of variety added to postcards through the ages, from high-quality printing to linen paper stock and more intricate artwork. Many people began to collect postcards as souvenirs when they travelled to new places, as holiday destinations began to advertise their local attractions and beauty through this medium.
Why we love them
Despite offering little space to compose messages and more often than arriving at your intended destination long after your holiday has come to an end, society has developed an obsession with postcards that has flourished over time. What's the big deal? These small decorative mail items were particularly popular in the late 1800s and early 1900s, becoming a quick and easy way for people to send messages on to each other. Less formal and time consuming than a letter, they're the ideal way to drop someone a line - does "Having a great time, wish you were here!!!!!" ring any bells? Consider them to be a slightly less in-your-face boast than, say, an Instagram photo of you lazing on a beach in Thailand. Personalise your bragging by sending a detailed description of said relaxation on postcards to your nearest and dearest and you'll get away with showing off!
Consider postcards as the old school text message. Before mobile phones made it exceptionally easy to send someone a brief greeting or piece of social commentary, postcards were the go-to solution, particularly when the sender was on the holiday of a lifetime and wanted everyone to know about it. These days you don't have to be abroad in order to maximise the potential of postcards. We recommend using them as a call to action for clients and customers, advertising a new service or special deal. With the ability to print pretty much any image or text you want on these bad boys, the postcard world is your oyster.
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