Postcards – when was the last time you received a handwritten letter or postcard?

The History of Postcards

In Covid times, I received a letter from my sister, I don’t actually think she had ever written me a letter before but it was lovely to receive.  It also reminded me how much I love a handwritten note and I always encourage my children to write thank you notes where possible.

So I thought what a good idea to get some Whitby postcards printed for the Corra Lynn and leave one on the breakfast tables (with a UK stamp supplied) to encourage everyone to send someone they know a handwritten postcard (also the post box is literally 20 seconds walk from our B&B).

Postcards have a fascinating history that dates back to the 19th century. The first known postal card was introduced in Austria in 1869, providing a cheaper and simpler way of sending a short message through the post. Unlike a traditional letter, postcards did not require an envelope, making them quick and inexpensive to send.

Postcards soon became popular across Europe and reached Britain in the 1870s. The introduction of the Penny Post made sending mail affordable, and postcards offered people an easy way to keep in touch with friends and family. Early postcards were generally plain, with space on one side for the address and the other for a written message.

The “Golden Age” of postcards arrived around the beginning of the 20th century. Improvements in colour printing allowed postcards to feature attractive photographs and illustrations of towns, seaside resorts, famous buildings and beautiful landscapes. People began collecting postcards as well as sending them, and popular holiday destinations such as Whitby became particularly well represented.

Postcards also became a fascinating record of everyday life. Old postcards can show how streets, buildings, fashions, transport and seaside entertainment looked many decades ago. For historians today, they provide a visual snapshot of places and communities at a particular moment in time.

Although postcards are less commonly used today because of email, text messages and social media, they have never completely disappeared. They remain popular with tourists, collectors and people who enjoy the personal touch of sending something through the post.

A postcard may be small, but it can capture a place, a memory and a moment in history all at once.  My Dad travelled a lot when I was younger and I still remember the joy of receiving his postcards through the letterbox on a regular basis.

Please take advantage of our postcards and write one to someone who you think would love to receive one.