In 1873, three years before Bell invented his telephone, the first penny postcard appeared in America. Advertisers immediately saw its potential, and quickly began selling to the public via original illustrations sent through the mail.

Then in 1892, the U.S. Post Office granted Charles Goldsmith permission to print and sell souvenir postcards of the World’s Columbian Exposition, and the Golden Age of postcards began. Travelers, politicians and families soon began mailing messages and holiday greetings throughout the world. To meet the demand, printing companies chose diverse subjects to catch the buyer’s eye, including Cherubs, lovers, children, animals, and Santas.

Postcards helped individuals communicate with one another across the nation, quickly and affordably. The Telecommunications History Group has dozens of postcards in their Telecommunications History Archive located in Denver, Colorado. Below you will find a sample of our postcards subdivided into the following sections: advertisements, greetings, holiday, jokes, and lovers.

Advertisements

Greetings

Holidays

Jokes

Lovers