Page 31 - Reading and Writing 6

Listen and Read

The History of Postcards

It’s hard to believe that postcards have been around for more than 150 years!
Collectors have preserved many of these beautiful examples of postal art.

A postcard is a thick rectangular piece of card, intended for carrying written
messages which can then be posted. Postcards differ from regular letters in that
they do not use envelopes. One only needs to stick a stamp on the intended
space, write the mailing address, and post the postcard. Usually, a postcard has
an image or a picture on one side, while its other side has a space for the stamp,
the mailing address, and a short message.
Postcards are extremely popular with collectors, because they portray a lot of
subjects, from picturesque landscapes to portraits of famous people. They can
even portray various forms of art and architecture, as well as important events.
Postcards are often considered to be historical documents, but there are a number
of determining factors, including the subject matter that the postcard portrays.
There are lots of people who appreciate the value of postcards, which is why so
many people collect postcards as a hobby.
At first, postcards did not have pictures on them. Theodore Hook posted the first
picture postcard in 1840. It was a hand-painted postcard depicting the post office
and its workers. Apparently, it was Theodore Hook himself who posted it as a
practical joke, as it featured caricatures of the postal office workers themselves.

By 1889, postcards had become a popular means of sending information. By 1900,
real photographs began to be used as postcard images. Postcards cover a wide
range of subjects. They may bear pictures of cities, wildlife, famous people, sports,
transportation, and even abstract patterns. There is almost no limit when it comes
to the subject of postcard images, and some postcards even come in shapes other
than the regular rectangular shape.

Postcards are very important because they provide a true picture of the culture of
the world through different generations. They photographically define historical
moments such as the World Wars, the first aircraft flight, and other major political
and sporting events. The study and collection of postcards is called deltiology.

After You Read

1 Work with a partner and discuss the following questions.

1 According to the passage, what other uses can postcards have? Give two
examples.

2 How long have postcards been around?

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