Friday, October 1, 2010

The Start of the Divided-Back Postcard in the U.S.

 "Here's wishing us more friends and less need of them." Copyright 1906 by H.H. Tammen of Denver. An old comic postcard. On the back is a bit of history:
Right below "This Side Is Exclusively For The Address" is a thin line dividing the back, and a note that "After March 1, 1907, This Space Can Be Used For A Written Message."

What happened if you wrote on the left side before March 1, 1907? Would the mailman refuse to deliver your card? There was never a space for a return address, so no one could trace the infraction back to you, if you slipped it in a mailbox somewhere...

Thanks to Beth at The Best Hearts Are Crunchy for hosting this online gathering. Be sure to check her blog for some fantastic vintage postcards, and links to many more.

8 comments:

  1. I have no idea what happened if you wrote on the wrong side. What a great card.

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  2. Perhaps the dead letter box is filled to the brim with vintage cards nixed because the sender dared to post a message

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  3. Well drawn black humour on a postcard of 1906. Thanks for sharing. Happy PFF.

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  4. Great card, and interesting information (and questions for musing). :-)

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  5. That is one of those questions that makes you go HMMMMMM!

    Great card! Thanks for stopping by and checking out my PFF post! Happy PFF

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  6. Well there we have the answer to my question of last week! :) That's really interesting.

    Maybe they'd have waited until the correct date before delivering the card.

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  7. wow! this IS a dark card...not waving, but drowning!

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  8. I know, it is not a pretty card. What a way to illustrate the beauty of friendship!

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