What we now see as a simple travel souvenir has a rich history tracing back to the latter half of the 19th century. The postcard emerged with the creation of the penny post and newfound mobility among the masses. Its journey began as a revolutionary way of sharing snippets of life across long distances.
The World’s First Postcards
The first widely recognized postcards were born in Austria in 1869. The Austrian postal service issued these simple cards for people to send short written messages at a low cost. Early postcards had no images; they were purely functional correspondence tools.
It didn’t take long for postcard makers to start adding illustrations and photographic prints to these small canvases. Germany became a postcard pioneer, producing some of the first souvenir-photographed cards in the 1870s. These depicted popular landmarks and landscapes, capturing intriguing local scenes to share with others far away.
The “Golden Age” of Postcards
The early 20th century is considered the “golden age” for postcards, with billions mailed each year worldwide. Local printers highlighted notable buildings, gardens, monuments, and ways of life. Armchair travelers enjoyed glimpses into diverse cultures. Publishers also employed talented artists to create highly stylized, imaginative postcards beyond mere photographs.
Postcards played a crucial role in connecting immigrant families with their distant homelands. They were affordable mementos for expressing patriotism and sharing evolving cityscapes. During conflicts like World War I, postcards helped those separated by war stay connected through simple messages.