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

In 1892, the U.S. Post Office granted Charles Goldsmith permission to print and sell souvenir post cards 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.

The two new communication inventions complimented one another. Cherubs, lovers, children, animals and Santas were all shown using the telephone on postcards.

Postcards are subdivided into the following sections: Ads, Greetings, Holiday, Jokes, and Lovers.

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