American Postcard History: A Brief Timeline

1873: The first United States government postal cards are issued. There are regulations created that govern the size and postage cost for these new mailings. Only government issued post cards are allowed to be mailed; no “counterfeit” postcards can be used. One side of the card is for address and stamp; the other side is completely blank and used as a space for writing a personal message. No picture is featured on these plain cards.

1898: An Act of Congress allows privately printed picture postcards to be used. Postcards must be inscribed with the phrase “Private Mailing Card – Authorized by Act of Congress, May 19, 1898.” The back of the postcard is still used only for address and stamp. The front is for an image and a personal message. The new picture postcards are an immediate success.

1901: New government regulations state that the words “Post Card” must be printed at the top of the address side on privately printed picture postcards. This is to distinguish private postcards from government issued ones that have “Postal Card” written on them.

1907: The United States government allows the true picture postcard, as we know it now, to become a reality. The message can now be written on one half of the address side, so that the entire other side can be used for a picture.