Post cards General

What is a Postcard?

A postcard is typically a rectangular shaped piece of thick paper containing a photograph or design on one side and a place for writing on the other side. It can, and normally is, mailed without an envelope. The description that the United States Post Office gives to the postcard is as follows: rectangular; at least 3-1/2 inches high, 5 inches long, and .007 inches thick; no more than 4-1/4 inches high, 6 inches long, and .016 inches thick. Most of the early postcards were considered "court card" size, which was 4-3/4 inches long by 3-1/2 inches high. Later the postcards were typically 5-1/2 inches long by 3-1/2 inches high so that it would be easier to write messages on them.

In 1901 cards described with the inscription "Post Card" were printed on the side without the picture (reverse side). The reverse side was reserved only for the address, and the front side had the picture as well as any message. However, this changed in 1907 when a "divided back" card was produced. As it is with postcards today, one side of the back is used for the message and the other side is used for the address.

During the 1860's the postcard was not an item which the U.S. Postal Service was fond of because of the "new" postal rules that were created to make letters simple to sort and deliver. The single sheet postcards may be quite easily lost and it was thought that since the address was not on the outside of an envelope some confusion could arise with the mail sorters. It was some time before this attitude would change and postcards could be sent through the U.S. mail without a problem.

The postcard may also be seen as an art object, which is known as mail art.
 

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