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...

14 items found:

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

Collection 1900s-2001 in three albums, with postcards (30),…

Sports Memorabilia Collection

Collection 1900s-2001 in three albums, with postcards (30), covers (49), signed covers (8) including Eddie Charlton, Leigh Matthews & Tony Shaw; trade cards (7), noted football, rugby league, surf lifesaving, surfing, club-swinging, athletics & olympics…

1956 Melbourne Olympics Cadbury's tin; drinking glasses (6);…

Melbourne Olympics 1956 Memorabilia Set

1956 Melbourne Olympics Cadbury's tin; drinking glasses (6); ceramic plates (2); ashtray, pennant & postcard. (Qty 12 items)

1906 Athens Olympics group of postcards with scenes from the…

1906 Athens Olympics Postcard Set from Intercalated Games

1906 Athens Olympics group of postcards with scenes from the Intercalated Games all postally used from Syros, Greece to Launceston, Tasmania in 1907, Fair condition. Very scarce. [The 'Intercalacated Games' were planned to be held in Athens in between the…

1912 Stockholm, V Summer Olympics: Official Postcards: A group…

1912 Stockholm Olympics: Winning Teams and Athletes Postcards

1912 Stockholm, V Summer Olympics: Official Postcards: A group of 3 real photo postcards including 'Australasia's team, 1st prize in team race 800m' (swimming) with Healy, Hardwick, Boardman (all of Australia) & Champion (N.Z.), also, Applegarth,…

Edwin Flack: Collection including transcripts of 1896 letters…

Edwin Flack Collection: Olympic Pioneer's Personal Artifacts

Edwin Flack: Collection including transcripts of 1896 letters from Edwin Flack to his father; invitations (2) re 1914 Olympic Congress in Paris; 1914 letters to Flack from British Olympic Association & Gordon Inglis (head of the Australian delegation);…

1936 Berlin Olympics: Group with 'Olympia 1936' in two volumes;…

1936 Berlin Olympics Memorabilia Collection

1936 Berlin Olympics: Group with 'Olympia 1936' in two volumes; postcards (2 with Olympic postmarks; 2 unused); Olympia-Berlin torch relay postcard; book 'Olympische Spiele Berlin 1936'; also photograph of 1932 India Olympic hockey team. (Qty 9)

The Australian Team in Los Angeles: A photographic postcard of…

Australian Olympic Team 1932: Signed Postcard from Los Angeles

The Australian Team in Los Angeles: A photographic postcard of the whole team in their Olympic Uniforms in front of the Olympic Stadium. The postcard has been signed by all 13 athletes and 3 officials, including Clare Dennis, Bobby Pearce and Duncan Gray,…

1956 Melbourne Olympics: Collection including programmes (16);…

1956 Melbourne Olympics Memorabilia Collection

1956 Melbourne Olympics: Collection including programmes (16); plus Athletic Trials (3) & Swimming Trials (3); tickets (22) & folders (8); postcards (6) & Esko Cards (20); books (6) including 'Official Report'; pennants (4) including Australian Rules…

1928 Kingsford Smith souvenir and other Australian Ephemera.…

Australian Ephemera Collection

1928 Kingsford Smith souvenir and other Australian Ephemera. Including 1927 2BL (Abc Radio) Personality postcard, 195; Olympic Games patches; TAA Convair postcard; signed Australian opera Elizabeth Connel programme; and 1940s '60 home Plans' stc.

1936 Australian Olympic Team: Postcard of S.S.'Mongolia' signed…

1936 Australian Olympic Team Signed Postcard

1936 Australian Olympic Team: Postcard of S.S.'Mongolia' signed by the entire Australian team of 34 athletes & 5 officials, with complete list of the team & their achievements. Includes the only medal winner from these Games, Jack Metcalfe - Bronze in…

Olympics: c1936 cards 'Olympia 1932' (137); 'Olympia 1936 Band…

Olympic Memorabilia Cards, Postcards, and Coasters

Olympics: c1936 cards 'Olympia 1932' (137); 'Olympia 1936 Band II' (93); c1936 postcards (9); c1968 drink coasters (8)

Collection of railway books & ephemera, journals, postcards,…

Railway Ephemera Collection

Collection of railway books & ephemera, journals, postcards, Olympics program & tickets. Noted 1888 Sands & McDougall's monthly diary train time table. 50+ items

Olympians Autographs: Collection of autographs (115) on…

Olympian Autograph Collection: 115 Signatures

Olympians Autographs: Collection of autographs (115) on postcards & publicity photos, noted Sepp Benz, Erich Scharer, Gustav Weder, Pascal Richard, Thomas Reineck, Torsten Gutsche, Ronald Rauhe, Alice Mills, Daniel Nunez, Svetlana Boginskaya, monica…

1928 Amsterdam Olympics Postcards: Group of postcards all from…

1928 Amsterdam Olympics Football Tournament Postcard Collection

1928 Amsterdam Olympics Postcards: Group of postcards all from football tournament, 6 relate to the final Argentina v Uruguay, whilst 5 relate to earlier games. (11 items)