The birth of the postcard can be traced back to the mid-19th century when individuals began sending simple illustrated cards through the mail. The first official postcard, known as a "correspondence card," was introduced in Austria in 1869. These early postcards featured a blank space for a message on one side and an image on the other, but lacked the divided back we associate with modern postcards.

The late 19th and early 20th centuries marked the Golden Age of Postcards, characterized by a surge in popularity and artistic creativity. Advances in printing technology, such as chromolithography, made mass production of colourful and elaborate postcards feasible. This era witnessed the rise of "souvenir cards," featuring images of tourist destinations, landmarks, and cultural scenes.

In 1907, a pivotal change occurred with the introduction of the divided back postcard, allowing for both the address and message to be written on the back, more...

45 items found:

These items have been sold, and the description, image and price are for reference purposes only.

World War I framed postcards. Handcrafted cards depicting all…

Allied Emblems: World War I Postcards

World War I framed postcards. Handcrafted cards depicting all Allied emblems.

Three various albums. World War II plane and ship postcards;…

Vintage Postcard Albums

Three various albums. World War II plane and ship postcards; mid 20th century Aust views; and 'Royal album of Chromo Views'

World War II French and Flemish postcard album. 'Le…

WWII Postcard Album: D-Day Landing in Europe

World War II French and Flemish postcard album. 'Le Debarquement en Europe/de Landing in Europa, 6-6-1944'. 48 postcards in total. Complete. 27 x 35 cm (album)

Group World War I Anzac Ephemera, including three handwritten…

Anzac Ephemera Collection with Kerry & Co. Booklet

Group World War I Anzac Ephemera, including three handwritten postcards of camp in Mena; 32 page booklet of Expeditionary Force Encampments (Australia) by Kerry & Co. (cover damaged, interior good); and booklet of Marylebone red cross Hospital showing the…

Photographs: A collection of Imperial War Museum black & white…

IWM Black & White War Photograph Collection

Photographs: A collection of Imperial War Museum black & white photographs (postcard size) mostly identified or otherwise annotated on reverse (approx. 400)

A collection of Sixty-eight World War I and World War II silk…

Silk Embroidered War Postcards Collection

A collection of Sixty-eight World War I and World War II silk embroidered postcards. The majority French and English, largely dedicated and inscribed with a message verso, some dated, not franked (a lot)

i) A World War I trench Art copper shell decorated in the arts…

WWI Trench Art Shell and Silk Postcards Collection

i) A World War I trench Art copper shell decorated in the arts crafts style and engraved 'Villers Bret. Neux'. Shell dated 1918. Height 19 cm, ii) A collection of 5 World War I silk postcards various types including 'Remembrance' and 'France'. 9 x 14 cm

Soccer & Rugby: Associated Press Photo from West Germany v…

Soccer and Rugby Memorabilia Collection

Soccer & Rugby: Associated Press Photo from West Germany v Australia match at 1974 World Cup; postcards 'Australasian F.C.1911-12' & 'Salford R.F.C. Tourists Aus 1936'; photograph 'The Kiwi Touring Team give their War Cry at Central Park, Wigan Oct.22nd…

Two World War I era postcards together with 3 military themed…

WWI Postcards and Military First Day Covers Collection

Two World War I era postcards together with 3 military themed first day covers

World War I Naval ensign (152 x 103 cm), 'Souvenir & Official…

Naval Memorabilia Collection

World War I Naval ensign (152 x 103 cm), 'Souvenir & Official Programme of the Naval Review' (1909), Booklet 'How to join the Royal Australian Navy' (early 20th century), 2 postcards & booklet. (6 items)

Original World War I postcards showing temporary grave and…

Aussie Soldier's Temporary and Final Resting Places

Original World War I postcards showing temporary grave and final grave of Australian soldier Colin Howatson (2)

A set of three World War I postcards Australian in the Middle…

Australian Soldier's WWI Postcards from Middle East

A set of three World War I postcards Australian in the Middle East reverse dated, Mena Camps Cairo 13/3/15 written by Harold William Morrisson 2nd batteryfirst field artillery AIF service number 186, to his Aunt Flo, Monteagle NSW.

A set of five British World War I postcards- reverse blank.…

British WWI Postcard Set

A set of five British World War I postcards- reverse blank. 'The V. C. - a Proud Moment' 'Leaving home - in Defence of home and country' 'England Expects - Nobly Done' 'In Training - Fit as a fiddle' 'A Happy Return- Home Sweet Home' written in pencil to…

A World War I black and white photographic postcard of Digger…

Digger: A Brave AIF Mascot of WWI

A World War I black and white photographic postcard of Digger the dog. He was an AIF mascot and was gassed and wounded at Pozieres. in the photograph, Digger lies on the Union Jack with ribbons (most likely red, white and blue) around his neck.

World War I Trooper William John Wright Light Horse Regiment…

WWI Trooper Ephemera with Banjo Patterson and Gallipoli Photos

World War I Trooper William John Wright Light Horse Regiment Ephemera comprising, a photo postcard of himself with A.B 'Banjo' Patterson & three other soldiers taken in Egypt 'Love to Mother From Will, I Am Sending You Some For Each of the Girls, Will'.…

Various postcards and Photos. Approx. 86 views and comic cards…

Vintage Postcards and Photos Collection

Various postcards and Photos. Approx. 86 views and comic cards with a few military World War I and naval cards and photos.

World War I Photographic album & World War II Tel-Aviv…

WWI Album & WWII Tel-Aviv Postcards

World War I Photographic album & World War II Tel-Aviv postcards comprising seventy miniature photos of Gallipoli, Egypt, Belgium & France in an album by L.C. Moss, Madden Street, Albert Park, Victoria, with fifteen various World War II postcards of…

World War I West Australian Interest, 31pcs a collection of…

West Australian War Memories

World War I West Australian Interest, 31pcs a collection of postcards and photographic images from World War I era, mostly West Australian images Many images depicting ANZAC soldier portraits, some cards inscribed verso from soldiers serving to family…

Collection of World War I silk postcards, total 26 pieces

WWI Silk Postcard Collection (26)

Collection of World War I silk postcards, total 26 pieces

Gallipoli postcards comprising seven, depicting various sites…

Glimpses of Gallipoli: 7 Postcards of Anzac Landing Sites

Gallipoli postcards comprising seven, depicting various sites after the Anzac landing.

Twenty Australian World War postcards and photographs of…

Australian WWI Postcards & Soldier Photos

Twenty Australian World War postcards and photographs of Australian soldiers, including one of Light Horse brigade member (20)

Two World War II cap tallies from opposing vessels engaged in…

WWII Naval Memorabilia Collection

Two World War II cap tallies from opposing vessels engaged in the Battle of the North Cape, the German Battleship Scharnhorst and HMS Belfast, along with other uniform badges, patches, epaulettes, buttons etc., and a selection of reprinted war postcards.

Twenty four French naval postcards, with scenes of warships and…

French Naval Postcards: Warships and More

Twenty four French naval postcards, with scenes of warships and others, some with text

Four World War I French embroidered postcards

French WWI Embroidered Postcards Collection

Four World War I French embroidered postcards

Four various World War I postcards, handwritten, including Cairo

WWI Postcards: Handwritten Messages from Cairo and Beyond

Four various World War I postcards, handwritten, including Cairo

Collection of postcards, autograph albums, photographs and…

Military Ephemera Collection

Collection of postcards, autograph albums, photographs and ephemera, many military related items, World War I and World War II period, inspection will reward, too many items to list,

A postcard album including World War I NZEF images, 17 real…

WWI NZEF Postcard Album with Real Photo Images

A postcard album including World War I NZEF images, 17 real photo postcards including platoons on training Remutaka Hill (multiples of 28th with ferns adorning their lemon-squeezers), Trentham Camp (Wellington College Old Boys), 'Bill Massey's Rough's,…

World War II period trench art frame with Prime Minister John…

WWII Trench Art Frame with Curtin Victory Loan Postcard

World War II period trench art frame with Prime Minister John Curtin Second Victory Loan Appeal postcard, 12.5 x 18.5 cm

Collection Valentine's postcards 'Aeroplane' card a total of 15…

WWII Aircraft Valentine's Postcard Collection

Collection Valentine's postcards 'Aeroplane' card a total of 15 cards, issued circa 1940/1943, of World War II aircraft, 9 cm x 14 cm, each.

Collection World War I postcards a total of approximately 35…

WWI Postcard Collection

Collection World War I postcards a total of approximately 35 post cards, a number of 'Bairnsfather,' 'Bystander,' post cards, and a series of London scenes, etc.

Postcards World War I Australian soldiers including 4th Anzac…

WWI Australian Soldier Postcards in Tartan Album

Postcards World War I Australian soldiers including 4th Anzac camel Regiment, Light Horse, etc, 29 cards in a tartan album

Australia: a range of early real photo postcards (or small…

Early Australian Real Photo Postcards and Photographs

Australia: a range of early real photo postcards (or small format photographs) with subjects including World War I soldiers, aborigines, a boating party, timber cutting, the 'Kia-Ora fruit Stand' (outside the Royal Hotel), family groups and landscapes.…

A trench art bowl made from a World War I shell, together with…

WWI Shell Bowl & Verdun Postcards

A trench art bowl made from a World War I shell, together with a booklet of 24 World War I postcards 'Verdun', (2 items), the bowl 16.5 cm diameter

Pre World War I collection of early 20th century postcards…

Early 20th Century Flight Postcards Collection

Pre World War I collection of early 20th century postcards mostly of flight

HMAS Melbourne: collection of World War I era real-photo…

HMAS Melbourne: WWI Real-Photo Postcards & Photographs Collection

HMAS Melbourne: collection of World War I era real-photo postcards (plus a few photographs) taken by crew members, mostly whilst the HMAS Melbourne was deployed in the Caribbean, many are annotated and dated on the reverse, stating where the images were…

An early 20th century postcard album, with one hundred and…

Silk Postcard Album from WWI Era

An early 20th century postcard album, with one hundred and twenty-four silk post cards, including many from World War I, souvenir, greetings and good luck cards, all in good condition.

An Edwardian postcard album, containing two hundred and…

Edwardian Postcard Album with WWI and Travel Cards

An Edwardian postcard album, containing two hundred and sixty-five postcards, including forty-one Bruce Bairnsfather 'Fragments from France' cards plus other World War I cards, vintage souvenir, travel, humorous, greetings and Japanese cards.

Book 1915 Australian Expeditionary Force postcards book of…

1915 AEF Postcard Book with Soldier's Letter in Tin Box

Book 1915 Australian Expeditionary Force postcards book of 'Cairo' postcards, with personal hand written letter from an Australian soldier, enclosed in an original 1915 dated tin box, marked for the Australian war Contingent Association, London.

Gallipoli - 'With The Camera At Anzac': group of 40 photographs…

Gallipoli: Anzac Cove Through the Eyes of Young Soldiers

Gallipoli - 'With The Camera At Anzac': group of 40 photographs (each 11.5 x 16 cm) taken by three young Australian soldiers Henry James Lowe, Arthur James Cook & George Downs at Anzac Cove and surrounding areas in 1915. This is an almost complete…

Major General Walter Adams Coxen Cb, Cmg, DSO (22 June 1870 -…

Postcards from Major General Coxen during WWI

Major General Walter Adams Coxen Cb, Cmg, DSO (22 June 1870 - 15 December 1949): A collection of postcards sent by Coxen to his daughter, 1915-19. The Coxen family lived in South Yarra during the First World War. (170+). In May 1915 Coxen was ordered to…

Australia: 1900s-1950s array with World War I silks sent from…

Vintage Australian Postcard Collection

Australia: 1900s-1950s array with World War I silks sent from Western Front to Australia (9), NSW and Victoria views, studio portrait postcards, some New Zealand cards; condition variable. (80+)

Joseph Herman RAAF '466' Squadron - 'Caterpillar Club':…

Miracle Survivor's WWII Personal Effects & Caterpillar Club Membership

Joseph Herman RAAF '466' Squadron - 'Caterpillar Club': Personal effects of miracle World War II survivor Joseph Herman who on the night of November 4, 1944 was piloting a Handley Page Halifax B III bomber over Germany when hit by anti-aircraft fire.…

A collection of postcards on Japanese submarines circa World…

A collection of postcards on Japanese submarines circa World War II, 9 x 14 cm

A collection of US, English and Australian military postcards,…

Military Postcard Collection with Anzac Education Pamphlet and Photograph

A collection of US, English and Australian military postcards, 1916 and later, including an Anzac education pamphlet circa 1916 and a vintage photograph of soldiers

Postcards - world 1900s-1930s collection in photo album, with…

Vintage Postcard Collection (1900s-1930s)

Postcards - world 1900s-1930s collection in photo album, with emissions from Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, USA, plus Royalty and Ships/Navy thematic selection; quite a few animated scenes amongst the usual array of religious buildings, castles,…