A brief insight into postcard history will allow you to understand its evolution and current qualities.
Postcards started circulating in America back in 1893, when the government allowed printers to publish a 1-cent postcard (the "Penny Postcard"). The writing message was allowed only on the postcard front side. Postcards were created out of the necessity to send short messages as quickly as possible.
During the Private Mailing Card era (1898-1901) written messages on the back side of postcards were not allowed. The words ‘Private Mail Card’ together with ‘Authorized by Act of Congress of May 19, 1898’ appeared on this part of the postcard. There was also a written reminder which explained that this side was restricted to the address, indicating, in this way, that the front part was dedicated to written messages.
In 1901 the words ‘Private Mailing Card’ were changed for ‘Post Card’. However, written messages were still restricted to the front until 1907, when the address side was divided, reserving the left space for a message and the right for the address. With this new space for writing, the front part of the postcard lost its restrictive space for the written message and started being used to include pictures.
Today postcards are used not only as way of mailing, but also as an advertisement medium. Postcards have many functions: they are handed (or available to be taken) as souvenirs at public places, such as museums; they are artistic and design works, advertisement pieces, collector’s items, gifts, or all in one.
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