Please, Mr. Postman, Look and See
If you wanted to send your friend a postcard of your town, what image would you choose?
Executive Assistant
Madison Vlass
has been exploring a collection of Newburyport postcards that were purchased by the Museum of Old Newbury as part of the Snow photograph collection.
In the 19
th
century, the idea of “post cards” caught on as a way to share an image and include a brief note. The first souvenir images were printed to advertise the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair, but soon postcards were featuring all manner of sketches, color drawings, graphics and advertisements. Businesses used them to connect with their customers and promote tourism, while the public sent them in order to share sights and experiences.
Initially, the U.S. Postal Service allowed senders to write a message only on the image side of the card (see picture below), while the reverse side was reserved for the mailing address. This rule was overturned in 1907, allowing the back of cards to be divided between a section for personalized notes on the left and an address section on the right. This small alteration set off a craze called the “Golden Age of Postcards” that lasted until the outbreak of World War I.
Interest in postcards picked back up in the 1930s when new printing processes allowed makers to use paper with a high rag-content making the cards look like they were printed on linen. This advancement, coupled with brighter pigments, increased visual appeal and effectiveness. They remained popular throughout the 20
th
century and are a souvenir staple today.
