When was the first postcard sent?
The first government-produced postcard was issued on May 1, 1873. One side of the postcard was for a message and the other side was for the recipient’s address.
How does a postcard work?
The back of a postcard is split into two sections, the right side being the destination for addressing the card’s recipient. Most postcards will have three lines in place for you to write the address in. Address the person you’re sending your card to on the left hand side of the postcard.
Why were letters so important to soldiers fighting overseas?
Soldiers relied on it for reassurances that those at home remembered and loved them; that their welfare mattered to them; and that they continued to have a civilian identity to which they could return when the war was over.
How did soldiers send letters?
Soldiers wrote letters in spare moments, sometimes from front line trenches or in the calmer surroundings behind the lines. Censorship dictated what servicemen were permitted to disclose in their letters.
When were postcards colorized?
In the 1880s, many postcards were printed with small sketches or designs (called vignettes) on the message side, initially just in black, but increasingly also in color. Slowly, Germany came to dominate the industry of chromolithography, with many postcards being printed there.
What year were postcards 2 cents?
17) that postage was raised briefly from 1 cent to 2 cents in 1917-1919 and in 1925-1928; the conclusive raise to 2 cents was in 1951.
What is postcard size for mailing?
According to the USPS, a postcard measures between 3.5” x 5” and 4.25” x 6”—anything larger is considered a “letter.” Therefore, if your size falls into this space, you can send at First-Class Mail rates, which carry a lower cost of postage than Marketing Mail.
What size postcards can be mailed?
USPS Postcard Size To qualify as a postcard, a mail piece must be rectangular and meet these dimensions: At least 3-1/2” high X 5” long X 0.007” thick. No more than 4-1/4” high X 6” long X 0.016” thick. Have finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125”
What was the mail system like during WW2?
The military mail system and the amount of post flowing back and forth internationally during the war was massive. An unprecedented amount of mail was moved about during the war with Army post offices, fleet post offices and US post offices flooded with mail.
Who invented V mail in WW2?
By the beginning of the war, American postal planners also had their eyes on Britain. Aerograph Ltd. was Britain’s use of microphotography of mail, implemented in 1941 when the first Aerograph letter was sent by Queen Elizabeth. The United States studied the British model and developed the V-mail system.
Who created the first postcard with a message?
Cards with messages have been sporadically created and posted by individuals since the beginning of postal services. The earliest known picture postcard was a hand-painted design on card created by the writer Theodore Hook. Hook posted the card, which bears a penny black stamp, to himself in 1840 from Fulham (part of London).
Why did the US military use V-mail?
To bring mail service to those serving worldwide, the military postal system required a global network and innovative practice. V-mail, short for “Victory mail,” was a particular postal system put into place during the war to drastically reduce the space needed to transport mail thus freeing up room for other valuable supplies.