Postcard History During the Golden Era of Postcards

Designing Handmade Greeting Cards

Photos of Making Greeting Cards

All the vintage postcards I used to make these handmade cards were made during the Golden Age of Postcards in the United States - 1898 through 1918. These postcards were issued by private companies. Many are very interesting and beautiful works of art. I especially like the old birthday postcards and the old Christmas postcards.

It is interesting to note that writing was not allowed on the address side of a postcard until March 1, 1907. As a result, many postcards had messages across the front of the postcard. Postcards with a divided back were printed with a vertical line on the back. The address was written on the right side of the line, and the message was written on the left side of the line. This period of time from 1907 to 1915 was known as the Divided Back era.

During this time, the public became addicted to sending and collecting postcards. Most people did not have telephones, so postcards became the way to keep in touch with friends and relatives near and far. Mail was delivered twice a day, so sending postcards became a timely way to correspond. In fact, many dates were arranged by postcard.

Publishers printed millions of cards with most quality postcards being printed in Germany. The lithography processes in Germany were so advanced that most cards from this time period are spectacular in design and color. World War I caused a crash in the postcard hobby and cut off the supply of the postcards from Germany. Most communication was done by postcard, and each home had its albums of postcards.

Today antique postcards are highly collectible. Collecting postcards (deltiology) is a rewarding, educational, and relatively inexpensive hobby. With the variety and quality of postcards available in every price range, postcard collecting is appealing to collectors. For those with small apartments or houses, postcard collections are perfect. Also, there are so many genres of postcard collecting that everyone can find a niche.

Postcards come in many sizes. The antique postcards I used to make these handmade greeting cards are considered normal or standard size - 3-1/2 by 5-1/2 inches.