Story of post card

Posted: Feb 27, 2011 |Comments: 0 |

The post card was invented in 1869 in Austria. It proved to be so popular that in the first month itself 1.5 million of them were sold. Other countries were quick to see the usefulness of this straw-coloured rectangular scrap of paper. Britain introduced the post card in 1872. It came to India seven years later in 1879. The earliest post card to be sold in India cost 3 paise. Within 9 months post cards worth 7.5 lakh rupees were sold in India.

Picture post cards became popular in 1889. That was the year in which the Eiffel Tower in Paris (France) was opened to the public. To make the event easily understood by the general public, the French printed post cards carrying the picture of the Eiffel Tower on one side for sale. Tourists could post these cards at a special post office set up on the top of the Eiffel Tower itself. The post cards of earlier days had some special features. People were allowed to write messages on only one side of the post card. The other side of the card was exclusively for writing the address of the person to whom it was to be sent. The British gave up this rule causing difficulty in 1902.

Mahatma Gandhi, Father of the Nation, was one of the most frequent users of the post card. Perhaps to honour the memory of this famous user of the post card, the Indian postal department issued special Gandhi post cards in 1951 and 1969. Although the post card is the cheapest way of sending messages, printing post cards is a losing bargain for the Indian postal department. Each post card, which now sells at 50 paise, costs the postal department a sizeable amount to produce. To offset this loss, the department has found many new uses for the post card. On 21st July, 1975, post cards carrying the message "Save your crops from insects and rodents" in Hindi were printed. Later, many other government slogans and messages in many Indian languages appeared on the post card.

Like stamp-collection, post card-collection is also a busy and successful hobby among collectors. This hobby is known as deltiology. In 1984, Susan Brown Nicholas of Illinois, USA, sold a rare postcard - one of the only five specimens of its kind in existence. It brought to her the equivalent of 1.75 lakh rupees.    

Questions and Answers

Ask
200 Characters left
Rate this Article
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 0 vote(s)
    Feedback
    Print
    Re-Publish
    Source:  http://www.articlesbase.com/collecting-articles/story-of-post-card-4319557.html

    Article Tags:

    history of post card

    Jibin varghse

    An esteemed collection of custom printed post cards encapsulates pets and pet care, music and entertainment, education and research, accounting and finance, sports and fitness, wedding and ceremony and more which are used for market promotion with printed cards.

    By: Jibin varghsel Business> Online Businessl Feb 26, 2009

    Create Christmas Cards and Holiday Cards online using custom tools to personalize your holiday message!

    By: Conrad Moorel Home and Family> Holidaysl Dec 14, 2011

    Credit history can be improved in future by an individual, by ensuring timely repayments of the loans and advances that one borrows either against a specific property or against your next pay cheque. For more information one can check out My Credit Score, Get Credit Score, Credit Score Free, and Credit Scores. It is important to remember that credit history plays a vital role in the determining the financial soundness of a person.

    By: get freescoresl Finance> Creditl Feb 10, 2011

    Business cards are considered as a very vital thing for all people who are associated with the world of business for them to immediately provide their contact details and information to someone.

    By: Johnray Danielsl Advertising> Printingl Nov 30, 2011

    A credit card, as you might know has individual information like your signature and often your photograph as well.

    By: Jim Glul Financel Jun 16, 2006 lViews: 170

    Are you contemplating about flying in an air craft and are worried about what the experience might be? The experience can be an enthralling one. You need not be apprehensive because the technology of air journeys has greatly been improved. These days there are a number of modes through which you can travel through air against the rule of the gravity.

    By: Christinel Hobbies> Collectingl May 25, 2012

    Australian high relief silver proof strikes are rapidly becoming a popular collecting genre.

    By: Perth Mintl Hobbies> Collectingl May 24, 2012
    Javed Khan

    An remote control helicopter can be used indoors or outdoors and is a great activity for the family to enjoy together. It can be used in your backyard, carried along for a picnic or at your local Remote Control Club

    By: Javed Khanl Hobbies> Collectingl May 24, 2012
    Javed Khan

    Anyone with a love of remote control apparatus combined with a love of flying can pick up an RC helicopter and enjoy it.

    By: Javed Khanl Hobbies> Collectingl May 24, 2012
    Javed Khan

    Flying an RC helicopter is a great hobby to indulge in. Not only is it a great outdoor activity to indulge in by yourself or with your child, it will also get you learning about aerodynamics. Gone are the days when this was only available to the select few. There is an remote control helicopter to fit almost every budget and need.

    By: Javed Khanl Hobbies> Collectingl May 24, 2012

    Though simple, the truth of impermanence of the world rarely catches your attention. Busy as we are with many issues of our matter-of fact, clothing, shelter, and attending to other needs, we do not think it is important and urgent to consider this.

    By: chakravarthyl Spirituality> Religionl Jan 24, 2012

    The moment we find some answers to questions we have about creation, the euphoria disappears for new questions emerge.

    By: chakravarthyl Spirituality> Religionl Jan 22, 2012

    In modern society there are different kinds of diseases and nervous tension can also be counted as one of them.

    By: chakravarthyl Spirituality> Religionl Jan 20, 2012

    Indians today have heart attacks 2.5 to 5 times more frequently than people in the west, and by the year 2020 heart disease will be the top killer disease in India.

    By: chakravarthyl Health> Diseases and Conditionsl Jan 18, 2012

    The golden jubilee year-long celebrations of Indian independence have made us proud of being India's first and last. Nevertheless, we still have a long, long way to go. What Gandhiji said much before independence, during the thick of the freedom struggle is more relevant today than it ever was.

    By: chakravarthyl News and Society> Freel Jan 17, 2012

    Discuss this Article

    Author Box
    Articles Categories
    All Categories
    Quantcast