Picture Postcard

This week I’m sharing a bit of history by way of postcards. Although times are different in 2023 - I still buy them - there is just something about this bit of card stock I can’t say no to.

On February 27, 1861 Congress passed an act allowing privately printed cards to be mailed. That year John P. Charlton copyrighted the first postcard in America. On May 19, 1898, Congress passed an act allowing private printing companies to produce cards with the statement “Private Mailing Card, The words “Private Mailing Card” distinguished privately printed cards from government cards.

In December 1901 the Postmaster-General issued Post Office Order No. 1447, changing the words to “Post Card” from “Private Mailing Card” on the back. Private printers were now allowed to omit the line citing the 1898 Private Mailing Card Act. However, messages were still not allowed on the address side. By this time, the front of most postcards had images, which eliminated space for messages. Because of the absence of message space on the address side, this Period is known as the Undivided Back Period.

On October 1, 1907 the Universal Postal Congress decreed cards could have messages on the left half of the address side, thus starting the Divided Back Period, which spans from 1907 until 1915.

There are additional periods including the White Border Period: 1915-1930 Printers saved ink by not printing to the edge of the card and leaving a border, these cards had a description of the image on the address side.

The Linen Period: 1930-1945 a new printing processes allowed printing with high rag content, which gave the cards the look of being printed on linen instead of paper.

Photochrom Period: 1945 - Present Modern photochrom-style cards first appeared in 1939 when the Union Oil Company began to carry them in their western service stations.

I still have my own copy of this Bermuda postcard purchased in 1974.

I’ve found a ton of postcards of my hometown. Here are examples of our Business district including President Grover Cleveland’s birthplace he was born here in 1837.

In the early 1900's people could have postcards produced with their own home as the subject. The postcard below was mailed in 1906. Since this was during the Undivided Back Period the message is written on the front: This house has just been completed by us at Essex Fells. Cost $40,000, 100 ft. on front. The home is located at 131 Rensselaer Road. Which still stands today.

This card is also sharing a residence.

Ocean City, NJ has been our beach destination for years.

I love thrifting cards and added Greetings From Florida to my collection. I was gifted the vintage Ocean City and Horse Track cards for my birthday.

This is similar to one I have from a trip with my parents when I was a kiddo.

My uncle had a vacation home in Normandy Beach.

“postcard: (NOUN) a card for sending a message by mail without an envelope, typically having a photograph or other illustration on one side.”

Residential cards from my hometown.

A local swim club that operated from the 1940’s into the 1980’s. Once sold the property now includes the famous home of character Tony Soprano.

More local cards. The Avenue, Summer Resort: The Monomonock Inn, County Park and the Movie house.

Bloomfield Ave at Business Center, Caldwell, NJ.jpg

I have a large and always growing collection of Souvenir Post Cards from the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Sometimes I frame a card - The Little Mast by James McNeil Whistler hangs in our bath. I have Post Card books too.