Are Postcards becoming a thing of the past?
The History of Postcards
Dotted around the Leger HQ are a number of postcards, all unique in their own way, from destinations all over the world, including Korcula and Rothenburg in Germany. Although all of the postcards were sent from all over the world, they all have one thing in common: not one of them was received in the last four years! It got us wondering if postcards are becoming a thing of the past. Has a simple text message or email put an end to the famous seaside souvenir? This made us dig deeper into the history of postcards, which resulted in some interesting finds.
- The first one ever sent was a hand-painted design, which was posted to a writer named Theodore Hook from himself in 1840, bearing a penny black stamp.
- The first known printed picture postcard was created in France in 1870 by Leon Besnardeau.
- 1871 was the year the first picture postcard, where the image functioned as a souvenir, was sent from Vienna.
- The first American postcard was developed in 1873.
- In 1984, Royal Mail gave permission to British publishers to manufacture and distribute picture postcards.
- Records show that at the peak of the "saucy" themed seaside postcard, sales peaked at a whopping 16 million a year.
- The study and collecting of postcards is termed Deltiology.
Do you know any more facts about postcards? Have you received or sent one recently? Let us know in the comments section below.
