How often do you think of the time before common things? Even the simplest things in our lives started as a spark in someone’s imagination. Four years ago, my husband gave me a mostly empty album for collecting vintage holiday postcards and together we’re building a scrapbook, one postcard at a time. The album is set up by the decade with sleeves for each and covers 100 years from 1860 to 1960. Cards kept as keepsakes speaks volumes of the regard in which they were held. We love them too. Each day from now until January, I’ll share one from my collection.
I think postcards have an interesting past. Did you know this hobby is as popular as stamp collecting? Collecting postcards is called Deltiology from the Greek deltion or writing tablet. Before there were cards sending wishes, there were decorated envelopes. The first concept for the postcard appeared in 1861, brainchild of John P. Charlton of Philadelphia. Shortly after he transferred his copyright to H.L. Lipman. The postcard idea had a slow start.
It wasn’t until 1889 that postcards became popular. It all started with the Eiffel Tower and the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. People visiting that modern wonder could send a photo postcard to family and friends. It wasn’t a souvenir per se, more an advertisement. It was after the 1893 Columbian Exposition in Chicago that postcards really took off. And they only cost 1⊄ to mail vs. the going rate of 2⊄ for letters. Comparatively speaking then and now, a penny back then had a value equal to a quarter today. If 15⊄ could buy you a quart of milk for your kids, you’d likely think saving a penny to send a greeting to your loved ones was a bargain.
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My international readers/writers group, Exquisite Quills, is trying something new this year — a romance cookbook! The ebook is available for pre-order now, and the hefty paperback comes out at the end of the month. It’s a lovely book, if I do say so myself with its 21 charming holiday stories and even more delicious recipes.
http://www.amazon.com/Exquisite-Christmas-Romance-Authors-Holiday-ebook/dp/B018F4ACSC/
If you’re a Twitter or Facebook user, please consider helping our international endeavor by joining our Thunderclap campaign. With this one-time, no-strings-attached Tweet and Facebook blast, we expand our world exposure for one day. Thank you for considering!
https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/35136-order-exquisite-christmas
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Another three 5-star reviews of The Changeling!
♥My other recent release has shining stars too!
Entice Me – a multi-author collection. It’s a steal for 99¢.
My story is Heart of Stone
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Words worth mentioning for November
“A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”
~ Saint Basil
Authors and Industry representatives all month long
http://romancebooks4us.blogspot.com/
Romance Books ‘4’ Us
The December contest starts soon. Prizes often include $100 in gift cards for Amazon/B&N, ebooks, print books, audiobooks, additional gift cards, and non-book items. http://www.romancebooks4us.com/
From my family to you and yours, have a safe and happy day.
calliopeswritingtablet.com 
I love to go through old postcards.My grandfather had a box full of postcards with dual images for use in a stereopticon. Half the box was scenes from the construction of the Panama Canal and the other half was from the opening of Yellowstone Park.
In 1983 I saw a rack of old postcards in Panama City. In 1990 when I spent several months in or around the Pacific side of Panama I walked into the same shop and the same postcards were still there. I bought a couple. I don’t have an extensive collection, but I still have antique cards from around the world in storage. It seems like every time I returned home I accumulated more souvenirs that are in storage. The biggest treasure trove was in Tallinn, Estonia. There were postcards and photos from Germany, the Soviet Union/Russia and elsewhere. Someone even left a snapshot of Hitler. Not something I would want. I did buy a Russian Officer’s winter fur hat and a pocket watch with a portrait of Czar Nicholas II from 1905. I gave it to my son who took it to a jeweler who said it was a real antique and not a newer reproduction.
Now that I no longer travel it is pretty much impossible to find any postcards that are really old.
Happy Thanksssssssgiving
I just now saw this. Happy belated Thanksgiving to you too! There are still plenty of old postcards on ebay. Look for Ephemera.